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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



CHUECH TEACHINGS 



FOR THE 



SUNDAY SCHOOL. 



jb -*r 



eugene Harrington, 

Superintendent of St. Timothy's Sunday School, 



CATONSVILLE, MD. 



■ 

BALTIMORE : 
T. NEWTON KURTZ, 

No. 151 West Pkatt Stbeet. 
1875. 



-$ 



>l** fcv 



c$ 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875. by 

EUGENE CARRIXGTON, 
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



PREFATORY. 



It has been the effort of the compiler of this book to 
condense in a limited number of lessons, a history of 
the Church, its doctrines and ordinances. 

The First Part contains a brief history of the birth, 
ministry, death, resurrection and ascension of our 
Saviour, and the descent of the Holy Ghost, together 
with an explanation of the principal Festivals and 
Fasts of the Church. This part of the work is intended 
to be used from the first Sunday in Advent to Trinity 
Sunday. 

Each lesson of the First Part consists of a passage 
from the Bible, appropriate to the Church season, ac- 
companied by explanatory notes from the works of 
some of our most eminent authors. 

The Second Part, to be used from Trinity to Advent, 
contains the history of the progress of the Church from 
the creation of man to the present time, with brief 
sketches of the lives of many of the most prominent 
personages of the Old and New Testaments. 

Throughout, the events are arranged in strict chro- 
nological order, according to the best harmonists. 

The plan of questions and answers has been avoided, 
and each lesson is arranged in the form of a simple 
narrative, which the children can readily understand. 



4 PREFATORY. 

It is important that the teachers should prepare 
themselves carefully upon each lesson, so as to be able 
to enlarge upon many important points, which are from 
necessity referred to here briefly ; and also to enable 
them to adapt their questions and explanations to the 
ages and minds of the pupils under their immediate 
charge. 

By such preparation on the part of the teachers, this 
book may be used for the instruction of children of 
every age, year after year, and still the many points of 
interest contained in each lesson will not be exhausted ; 
nor can these blessed truths of the Holy Scriptures be 
too fully impressed upon the minds and hearts of the 
children entrusted to their care. 

As it is most applicable to this subject, it will not be 
out of place to quote here a few lines from the Pastoral 
letter recently issued by the House of Bishops of the 
General Convention for 1874 : 

" The Church maintains the Faith in its purity and 
integrity as taught in the Holy Scriptures held by the 
primitive Church, summed up in the Creeds, and af- 
firmed by the undisputed General Councils : her Con- 
stitution, attested by Holy Scripture and ancient authors, 
she has not invented, but inherited from the days of 
old ; her Liturgy was moulded by the breath of many 
saintly men. Your children should know the value of 
these precious gifts, and the grounds on which we re- 
ceive and love them. In an age of hidifferentism, when 
so many seek to reduce all religion to a sentiment, it is 
cruel to expose a child to the solicitations of variant 
systems of belief and practice without a knowledge of 
the origin and history of the Church of Christ, and an 



PREFATORY. 5 

intelligent understanding of the authority on which 
she relies for her doctrine and order." 

In compiling this book free use has been made of 
Bishop Hobart's Edition of Nelson's Festivals and 
Fasts, The Eclectic Commentary, Kitto's History of 
Palestine, Cave's Lives of the Apostles, Trie Pocket 
Commentary and Bible Dictionary, edited by the Revs. 
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, and Palmer's Ecclesi- 
astical History. 



Kectory, St. Timothy's Church, 

E. Carrington, Esq., 

Superintendent St. Timothy's Sunday School : 

Dear Sir — I have carefully examined the plan you 
propose for the better instruction of the children of our 
Sunday School, in "Church doctrine and Bible truth," 
and can truly say that it is in every particular what I 
have long believed to be the only proper method of 
making a Sunday School, what it ought to be, the 
nursery of the Church. 

Very truly, your Pastor and friend, 

C. E. HAINS. 

November , 1874. 



St. Timothy's Hector y, 

Catonsyille, April, 1875. 

My Dear Mr. Carrington — I am very much pleased 
with the plan you have adopted in the volume entitled, 
" Church Teachings for the Sunday School," and I 
would heartily commend the work, in its completed 
form, to every Teacher who is interested in the instruc- 
tion of the young. You have succeeded in condensing 
a great deal of valuable information about the Holy 
.Scriptures and the Church within a limited number of 
Sunday lessons; and you certainly deserve the thanks 
of toiling Teachers. 

Very truly yours, 

T. W. PUNJSTETT, Rector. 



PART FIKST. 



Christ's Life among us— Advent to Trinity. 

Christ's Incarnation, Nativity, Circumcision, and 
Manifestation to the Gentiles; His doctrine and Mira- 
cles; His Baptism, Fasting and Temptation ; His agony 
and bloody Sweat ; His cross and passion; His precious 
death and burial • His glorious resurrection and ascen- 
sion ; and His sending the Holy Ghost to comfort us. 

WITH 

AN EXPLANATION OF THE PRINCIPAL FES- 
TIVALS AND FASTS OF THE CHURCH. 

[Note. — The remainder of the Festivals, (The Saints' 
Days) are explained in the Second Part of this book 
in the sketches of the lives of the Apostles and other 
Saints.] 



I* 



8 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 



FESTIVALS AND FASTS. 

" Festivals are days set apart by the Church, either 
for the remembrance of some special mercies of God, 
such as the birth and resurrection of Christ, the descent 
of the Holy Ghost, etc., or in memory of the blessed 
apostles, and other saints, who were the happy instru- 
ments of conveying to us the knowledge of Christ Jesus. 
They are of ecclesiastical institution ; agreeable to scrip- 
ture in their general design, which is the promoting of 
piety ; and consonant to the practice of the primitive 
Church." 

" Fasts are clays set apart by the Church, in which, by 
abstinence, humiliation, and repentance, we are to tes- 
tify our grief for our past sins, and strengthen our res- 
olutions of holy obedience." 



Lesson I.— The First Sunday in Advent. 

Ax Angel Appeareth to Zacharias —Jerusalem. 
Luke i, 5-17. 

5. U There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain 
priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia : and his wife was of the 
daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 

6. And they were bodi righteous before God, walking in all the com- 
mandments and ordinances of the Loid blameless. 

7. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and 
they both were now well stricken in years. 

8. And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office 
before God in the order of his course. 

9. According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn 
incense when lie went into the temple of the Lord. 

10. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at 
the time of incense. 

11. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on 
the right side of the altar of incense. 

12. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell 
upon him. 

( 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. V 

13. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias : for thy prayer 

is heard : and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt 
call his name John. 

14. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; "and many shall rejoice 
at his birth. 

15. For he shall be great in the sight of t'^ie Lord, and shall drink 
neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy 
Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 

16. And many of- the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord 
their God. 

17. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to 
turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to 
the wisdom of thijust ; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. 



NOTES ON ADVENT. 

Advent Sundays are the four Sundays that precede 
the great festival" of our Saviour's nativity; Advent 
being the season appointed by the Church to prepare 
our minds, by proper meditations, for a due commem- 
oration of Christ's coming in the flesh. 

The first Sunday in Advent is always the nearest 
Sunday to the feast of St. Andrew, whether before or 
after. 

The feast of St. Andrew occurs November 30th. 

The Church computes the beginning of the year, and 
renews the annual course of her services, at this season 
of Advent. 

We have also presented to us in the services of Ad- 
vent, the consideration of our Lord's second coming to 
judge the world. (Acts xvii, 31. 2 Tim. iv, 1.) 

(Bishop Hobart's Festivals and Fasts, page 93.) 



NOTES ON THE LESSON. 

Zacharias executed the priest's office ; it was his w T eek 
of waiting, and he was upon duty. Though we have 
not the desired mercies, yet we must keep close to en- 
joined services; and in diligent and constant attend- 
ance on them, we may hope mercy and comfort will 
come at last. (Eclectic Commentary, page 142.) 

The prayers Zacharias has often made, shall now 
receive an answer of peace. Prayers of faith are not 
forgotten. (Eclectic Commentary, page 142 ) 



10 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

Lesson II.— The Second Sunday in Advent. 

The Conception of John the Baptist.— Jerusalem. 

Luke i, 18-25. 

18. And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this ? 
for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 

19. And the angel answering said unto him\ I am Gabriel, that stand 
in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew 
thee these glad tidings. 

20. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the 
day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not 
my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. 

21. And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he tar- 
ried so long in the temple. 

22. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them : and they 
perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned 
unto them, and remained speechless. 

23. And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration 
were accomplished, he departed to his own house. 

24. And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself 
five months, saying, 

25. Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked 
on me, to take away my reproach among men. 



NOTES. 

Zacharias heard all that the angel said ; but his unbe- 
lief spake. God dealt kindly with him in striking him 
dumb, for thus he prevented his speaking any more 
such distrustful, unbelieving words. 

Thus also God confirmed his faith. (Eclectic Com- 
mentary, page 142 ) 






Lesson III.— The Third Sunday in Advent. 

An Angel Appears to Mart. — Nazareth. 
Luke i, 26-38. 

26. And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God 
unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 

27. To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the 
house of David ; and the virgin's name was Mary. 

* 28. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art 
highly favoured, the Lord it with thee: blessed art thou among wo- 
men. 




THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 11 



29. And when she saw him she was troubled at his saving, and cast 
in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 

30. And the ans?el said unto her, Fear not, Mary : for thou hast 
found favour with God. 

t 31. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth 
a son. and shalt call his name JESUS. 

$32. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: 
and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David : 

1 33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of 
his kingdom there shall be no end. 

34. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I 
know not a man? 

35. And the angel an c wered and said unto her. The Holy Ghost shall 
come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee : 
therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be 
called the Son of God. 

36. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son 
in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called 
barren. 

37. For with God nothing shall be impossible. 

38. And Mary said. Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it unto 
me according 10 thy word. And the angel departed from her. 



NOTES. 

* This salutation means only, that as the mother of 
our Lord she was the most "blessed among women" 
in external distinction. The mistake of the Vulgate's 
rendering, "full of grace," has been taken abundant 
advantage of by the Romish Church. But let them 
hear the Lord's own words, " Yea, rather, blessed are 
they that hear the word of God, and keep it." (Luke 
xi, 27-28.) 

fThe angel purposely conforms his language to 
Isaiah's famous prophecy. (Isaiah vii, 14.) 

J This is but an echo of the sublime prediction. — 
(Isaiah ix, 6-7.) (The Pocket Commentary, J. F. & B., 
page 4.) 

Mary's reply to the angel was entirely the language 
of faith, and humble admiration, and she asked no sign 
for the confirming her faith, as Zacharias had done. 
(Eclectic Commentary, page 143.) 



12 



CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 



Lesson IV.— The Fourth Sunday in Advent. 

The Nativity and Circumcision of John the Baptist. The Pro- 
phecy or Zacharias both of Christ and of Jonx.—Juttah. 

Lukei. 57-80. 

57. Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered ; 
and she brought forth a son. 

58. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had 
shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 

59. And it came to pass, that on the eighth clay they came to cir- 
cumcise the child ; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of 
his father. 

60. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be 
called John. 

61. And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is 
called by this name. 

62. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 

63. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saving, His| name is 
John. And they marvelled all. 

64. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, 
and he spake, and praised God. 

65. And fear came on all that dwelt round about them : and all 
these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of 
Judea. 

66. And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, say- 
"ing, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord 

was with him. 

67. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and 
prophesied, saying, 

68. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and re- 
deemed his people. 

69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of 
his servant David ; 

70. As he spake by the mouth of his holy p-ophets, which have been 
since the world began : 

71. That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand 
of all that hate us; 

72. To perform the mercy promised! to our fathers, and to remember 
his holy covenant; 

73. The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 

74. That he would grant unto us, that we teeing delivered out of the 
land of our enemies might serve him without fear, 

75. In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. 

76. And thou, child, shaltbe called the prophet of the Highest: for 
thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways : 

77. To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission 
of their sins, 

78. Through the tender mercy of our God ; whereby the dayspring 
from on high hath visited us, 

79. To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of- 
death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. 

80. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the 
deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 13 



NOTES. 

We have an account of the birth of John the Baptist, 
and the great joy among all the relations of the family 
upon this extraordinary occasion. 

Zacharias recovers his speech. The time fixed for 
his being silent has expired. Unbelief closed his mouth, 
and believing opened it again ; he believes, therefore 
he speaks. (Eclectic Commentary, page 144.) 

The prophecy of Zacharias represents the Messiah as 
coming, like the rising Sun, to dispel the darkness 
which covered the world, bringing life and immortality 
to light through his gospel. (Bloomfield.) 



Lesson V.— The First Sunday after Christmas Day. 

The Nativity of Christ. — Bethlehem. 
An Angel Appears to the Shepherds. — Near Bethlehem. 



And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from 
Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 

2. [And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of 
Syria.) 

3. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 

4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Naza- 
reth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem ; 
(because he was of the house and lineage of David :) 

5. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 

6. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accom- 
plished that she should be delivered. 

7. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in 
swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no 
room for them in the inn. 

8. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the 
field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 

9. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of 
the Lord shone round about them : and they were sore afraid. 

10. jfnd the angel said unto them, Fear not : for, behold, I bring yoxi 
good tidings of great joy. which shall be to all people. 

11. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, 
which is Christ the Lord. 

- 12. And this shall he a sign unto you : Ye shall find the babe wrap- 
ped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 

13. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the 
heavenly host praising God, and saying, 

; 14. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will 
toward men. 



14 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

NOTES. 

The Church celebrates at this time tbe great festival 
of the nativity of our Saviour Jesus Christ ; or the ap- 
pearance of the Son of God in the flesh. 

For the observation of this festival, we have the au- 
thority of the primitive Church ; for though we have 
no certain evidence of the exact time when it was first 
observed, the immemorial observation of it, is a proof 
of its primitive institution. 

The prophecies of the Old Testament foretold the 
miraculous birth of the Messiah. (Isaiah vii, 14.) 

Christ was born at Bethlehem, according to the pre- 
diction of the prophet Micah. (Micah v, 2.) 

The eternal Son of God, when he descended upon 
earth, chose a state of poverty, to teach us, that riches 
and honours are not valued in the sight of God, nor 
necessary to true felicity ; and his birth was first an- 
nounced to the simple and innocent Shepherds of Beth- 
lehem. The important lesson is hereby taught us, that 
none but the poor in spirit, none but those who cherish 
meekness and humility of temper, are prepared to re- 
ceive the blessings of salvation. 

This festival is abused, when, instead of devoting it 
to the exercises of piety, we chiefly employ it in vain 
and idle pleasures. (Bishop Hobart's Festivals and 
Fasts, pages 108, 109, 110, 115.) 



Lesson VI.— The Second Sunday after Christmas -Day, 

The Circumcision of Jesus, and His Presentation in the Temple # 



Luke ii, 15-28. 

15. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them 
into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even 
unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the 
Lord hath made known unto us. 

16. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and 
the babe lying in a manger. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 15 

17. And when they had seen i7, they made knovrn abroad the saying 
which was told them concerning this child. 

18. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were 
told them by the shepherds. 

19. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 

20. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising~God for all 
the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. 

21. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of 
the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the 
anzel before he was conceived in the womb. 

22. And when the days of her purification according to the law of 
Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present 
Mm to the Lord ; 

23. (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that open- 
eth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord ; ) 

24. And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the 
law of the Lord, A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons. 

25. And, Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was 
Simeon ; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the con- 
solation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 

26. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should 
not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 

27. And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the par- 
ents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the 
law, 

28. Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 

29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to 
thy word : 

30. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 

31. Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 

32. A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 

33. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which 
were spoken of him. 

34. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Be- 
hold this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; 
and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 

35. (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the 
thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. 

36. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, 
of the tribe of Aser; she was of a great age, and had lived with an 
husband seven .years from her virginity ; 

37. And she was a widow of about four-score and four years, which 
departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and 
prayers night and day. 

38. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the 
Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in 
Jerusalem. 



NOTES. 

Circumcision was a rite of the Jewish law, whereby 
that people were received into covenant with God. In 






16 CHUECH TEACHINGS FOR 

the Christian Church the rite of circumcision has been 
abolished, arid the sacrament of baptism substituted. 
By this sacrament children are entered into covenant 
with God under the Gospel, as they were, under the law, 
by circumcision; and become, by baptism, obliged to 
observe the commands of the Gospel, as the circumcised 
infant became a debtor to the whole law of Moses. (Gal. 
v, 3.) Since they sustain the lamentable consequences ) 
of the fall, it is certainly proper that they should enjoy 
the means of redemption which God has provided m 
his holy Church, into which baptism is the only mode 
of admission; for the Saviour himself declares, that ex- 
cept a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can- 
not enter into the kingdom of God. (John iii, 5.) 

In the primitive Church, baptism was administered 
to infants ; and the custom was considered as of apos- 
tolic institution. 

While Jesus Christ was holy and without sin, it was 
necessary that he should be circumcised, in order that 
he might become subject unto the law, and, sustaining 
the penalties of the law in our stead, might expiate our 
sins by his own blood. . 

The name of Jesus, which was given to our # Saviour 
at his circumcision, implies his office— to save his people 
from their sins. (Matt, i, 21.) 

The commencement of a new year should suggest to 
us the great value of time, which God has given us for 
the purpose of working out our salvation; and upon 
the improvement of which, therefore, depends our eter- 
nal destiny. Faithfully devoting our time, our talents 
and advantages, to the honor and service of God, we 
may humbly rejoice in his favor here, and confidently 
look forward to the fruition of his blessed presence 
hereafter. (Bishop Hobail/s Festivals and Fasts, pages 
128-131.) 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 17 



^Lesson VII.— The First Sunday after the Epiphany. 

The Wise Men Directed to Jesus.— Jerusalem, Bethlehem. 

The Flight into Egypt. Herod's Cruelty. The Return.— 

Bethlehem, Nazareth. 

Matthew ii. 

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of 
Herod the king, b.-hold, there came wise men from the east to Jeru- 
salem. 

2. Saying, Where is be that is born King of the Jews ? for we have 
seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 

3. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, 
and all Jerusalem with him. 

4. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the 
people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 

5. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is 
written by the prophet, 

6. And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among 
the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall 
rule my people Israel. 

7. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired 
of them diligently what time the star appeared. 

8. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search dili- 
gently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me 
word again, that I may come and worship him also. 

9. When they had heard the king, they departed ; and, lo, the star, 
which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood 
over where the young child was. 

10. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 

11. If And when they were come into the house, they saw the young 
child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him : and 
when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; 
gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 

12. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not re- 
turn to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. 

13. And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the" Lord 
appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young 
child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I 
bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 

11. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, 
and departed into - Egypt; 

15. And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be ful- 
filled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of 
Egypt have I called my son. 

16. IT Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise 
men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children 
that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years 
old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired 
of the wise men. 

17. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, 
saying, 

18. In Rama was there a voica heard, lamentation, and weeping, 



3 



18 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 



and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not 
be comforted, because they are not. 

19. H But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord ap- 
peareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. 

20. Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go 
into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young 
child's life. 

21. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and 
came into the land of Israel. 

22. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the 
room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither : notwithstanding, 
being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of 
Galilee. 

23. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth : that it might 
be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a 
Nazarene. 



NOTES ON THE EPIPHANY. 

The word Epiphany, signifying manifestation, may be 
applied to Christmas-day, when Christ was manifested 
in the flesh ; hut it is appropriated by the Church to the 
Festival of the Epiphany (January G), when he was 
manifested to the Gentiles. In celebrating this festival, 
we design to show our gratitude to God for manifesting 
the Gospel to the Gentile world ; thus vouchsafing to 
them equal privileges with the Jews: and the first in- 
stance of this divine favor to the Gentile world was, 
when the birth of Christ was declared to the wise men 
of the East. It was the merciful design of God, that his 
grace should appear unto all men : and as the Jews had 
notice of our Saviour's birth, by the appearance of 
angels to the shepherds ; so the Gentiles were informed 
of it now, by the manifestation of Christ to the wise 
men of the East. 

The manifestation of the Saviour to the Gentile 
world, by which gracious dispensation of God we have 
been "called out of darkness into his marvelous light," 
should be commemorated with lively gratitude, with 
firm resolutions to walk worthy of our holy vocation, 
and with earnest prayer to God, that he would be 
pleased to extend the light of salvation .to those who 
still sit in darkness and the shadow of death. (Bishop 
Hobart's Festivals and Fasts, pages 132-135.) 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 1\) 

XOTES ON THE LESSOX. 

We also have in this lesson an account of the slaugh- 
ter of the little children by Herod, for which cruelty the 
signal vengeance of God was inflicted upon him, for he 
was smitten with many plagues and tortures. (Jose- 
phus, lib. xvii, c. 8.) 

Herod, under the pretence of worshiping Jesus, sought 
his destruction : hence we may learn that religion is 
sometimes used as a cloak for ambitious and worldly 
designs. 

Since innocent children were made a sacrifice to the 
ambition of a cruel tyrant, we may learn, that suffering 
and affliction are not always proofs of guilt, but, on the 
contrary, are sometimes the marks of God's favor. 
(Bishop Hobart's Festivals and Fasts, pages 125, 126.) 



Lesson VIII.— The Second Sunday after the Epiphany. 

At Twelve Years of Age Jesus Goes to the Passover. — He 
Questioneth with the Doctors in the Temple. — Jerusalem. 

Luke ii, 40-52. 

40. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wis- 
dom . and the grace of God was upon him. 

41. Xow his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the 
passover. 

42. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem 
after the custom of the feast. 

43. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child 
Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem- and Joseph and his mother kneAv 
not of it. •* 

44. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a 
day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and ac- 
quaintance. 

45. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jeru- 
salem, seeking him. 

46. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the 
temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and 
asking them questions. 

47. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding 
and answers. 

48. And when they saw him, they were amazed : and his mother said 
unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father 
and I have sought thee sorrowing. 



20 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 



49. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye 
not that I must be about my father's business? 

* 50. And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 

* 51. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was 
subject unto them : but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 

52. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with 
God and man. 



NOTES. 

We have here the only record concerning our blessed 
Saviour from his infancy, until his showing to Israel 
when about twenty-nine years old. 

Christ went up with his parents to Jerusalem, at the 
feast of the passover. It was their constant practice to 
attend there, according to the law, though it w r as a long 
journey, and they were poor. Worldly business must 
give way to spiritual concerns. 

The child Jesus, at about twelve years old, w T ent 
up with them. It is for the honor of Christ that chil- 
dren should attend on public worship, and he is pleased 
with their hosannas. 

*His mother, though she did not perfectly understand 
her son's sayings, yet kept them in her heart, expecting 
that hereafter they would be explained. However we 
may neglect men's sayings, because they are obscure, 
yet w T e must not think so of God's sayings. That which 
at first is dark, may afterward become plain and easy. 
(Eclectic Commentary, pages 147, 148.) 



X.esson IX.— The Third Sunday after the Epiphany. 

The Ministry of John the Baptist. — The Desert, the Jordan. 
The Baptism of Jesus.— The Jordan. 

Mark i, 1-11. 
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God: 

2. As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger be- 
fore thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 

3. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of 
the Lord, make his paths straight. 

4. John did baptize in the wilderness, and pi-each the baptism of 
repentance for the remission of sins. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 21 



5. And there went ont unto him all the land of Judea. and they of 
Jerusalem, ar.'d were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, con- 
fessing their sins. 

6. And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a 
skin about his loins ; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; 

7. And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, 
the latchet of whose. shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 

8. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you 
with the Holy Ghost. 

9. And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus camefrom Nazareth 
of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. 

10. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens 
opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him : 

11. And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my be- 
loved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 



NOTES. 

The coming and office of St. John Baptist was fore- 
told by the prophets. (Isaiah xl, 3; Malachi iii, 1.) 

Malachi also describes him under the character of 
Elijah the prophet, who was to " turn the hearts of the 
fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to 
their fathers." (Malachi iv, 5, 6 ) (Bish. Hobart's Fes- 
tivals and Fasts, page 230.) 

In John's preaching and baptizing there was the be- 
ginning of the gospel doctrines and ordinances, and the 
first fruits of them. He preached the remission of sins 
and repentance. He preached Christ, and directed his 
hearers to expect him speedily to appear, andjto expect 
great things from him. John, though one of the great- 
est that was born of woman, thinks himself unworthy 
to be employed in the meanest office about Christ. The 
most eminent saints have always been the most humble. 
(Leighton — Eclectic Commentary, page 107.) 

Christ took upon himself the likeness of sinful flesh ; 
in that, though he was perfectly pure and unspotted, 
yet he was washed as if he had been polluted ; and 
thus, for our sakes, he sanctified himself, that we also 
might be sanctified and baptized with him. He saw the 
heavens opened; thus he was owned to be the Lord 
from heaven, and had a glimpse of the glory and joy 
set before him, and secured to him. (Eclectic Com- 
mentaiy, page 107.) 



CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

Christ heard a voice, which was encouragement to 
proceed in his undertaking; Thou art 1113^ beloved Son. 
God is well pleased in him, and with us in him. (Lei^h- 
ton — Eclectic Commentary, page 107.) 



Lesson X.— The Fourth Sunday aftsr the Epiphany. 

Jesus Fasteth and is Tempted. — The Angels Minister 
unto Him. — Desert of Judea. 

Matthew iv, 1-11. 

Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted 
of the devil. 

2. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was after- 
ward an hungred. 

3. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son 
of God, command that these stones be made bread. 

4. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread 
alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 

5. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him 
on a pinnacle of the temple, 

6. And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down : 
for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee : and 
in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy 
foot against a stone. 

7. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt 
the Lord thy God. 

8. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, 
and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them ; 

9. And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt 
fall down and worship me. 

10. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan : for it is writ- 
ten, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou 
serve. 

11. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and min- 
istered unto him. 



NOTES. 

Concerning Christ's temptation, observe, immediately 
after the heavens were opened to him, and the Spirit 
descended on him, and he was declared to be the Son of 
God, and the Saviour of the world, he is tempted. Great 
privileges, and special tokens of divine favor, will not 
secure from bein2' tempted. He was directed to the 




THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 23 



combat. Our care must be, not to enter into tempta- 
tion. If we presume upon our own strength, and tempt 
the devil to tempt us, we provoke God to leave us to 
ourselves; but whithersoever God leads us, we may 
hope he will go along with us. 

If we resist the devil, he will flee from us ; lie will 
yield, if we keep our ground. 

The holy angels came, and attended our victorious 
Redeemer. Christ was thus succored after the tempta- 
tion, for kis encouragement to go on in his undertak- 
ing ; and for our encouragement to trust in him ; for as 
he knew, by experience, what it was to suffer; being 
tempted, so he knew what it was to be succored, being 
tempted; therefore we may expect, not only that he 
will sympathize with his tempted people, but that he 
will come with seasonable relief. (Eclectic Comment- 
ary, pages 16— 18.)j 



Lesson XI —The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany. 

Testimony of John the Baptist to Jesus. — Bethabara beyond 

Jordan. 

The Calling of Aneeew. Peter. Philip and Xathanael. — 

The Jordan, Galilee. 

John i, 19-51. 

19. % And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and 
Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou ? 

20. And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed. I am not the 
Christ. 

21. And they asked him. What then ? Art thou Elias ? And he saith, 
I am not. Art thou that prophet ? And he answered, Xo. 

22. Then said they unto him. Who art thou? that we may give an 
answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 

23. He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make 
straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 

24. And the}- which were sent were of the Pharisees. 

25. And they asked him, and said unto him. Why baptizest thou 
then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet ? 

26. John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there 
standeth one among you. whom ye know not; 

27. He it is. who coming after me is preferred b?fore me. whose shoe's 
latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 



24 



CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 



28. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John 
was baptizing. 

29. TT The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, 
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 

30. This is he of whom I said, After me comech a man which is pre- 
ferred before me : for he was before me. 

31. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to 
Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 

32. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from 
heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 

33. And f knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, 
the same safd unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descend- 
ing, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the 
Holy Ghost. 

34. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. 

35. If Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples ; 

36. And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb 
of God! 

37. And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 

38. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto 
them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, 
being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 

39. He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he 
dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. 

40. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was 
Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 

41. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We 
have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 

42. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he 
said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, 
which is by interpretation, A stone. 

43. If The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and find- 
eth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. 

44. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 

45. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him. We have found 
him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of 
Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 

46. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come 
out of Nazareth ? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. 

47. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold 
an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 

48. Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus 
answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou 
wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee. 

49. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the 
Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. 

50. Jesus answered and said unto him. Because I said unto thee, I 
saw thee under the fig-tree, believest thou ? thou shalt see greater 
things than these. 

51. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereaf- 
ter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and de- 
scending upon the Son of man. 



THE SUSDAY SCHOOL. 25- 

KOTES. 

John disowns himself to be the Christ, who was now 
expected and waited for. John was merely the voice of 
a herald to proclaim the Saviour's glory. He disowns 
himself to be Elias. The Jews expected the person of 
Elias to return from heaven, and to live among them. 
He indeed came in the spirit and power of Elias, but 
he was not the person of Elias. He disowns himself to 
be that prophet, or the prophet. John was not that 
Prophet wnich Moses said the Lord would raise up to 
them of their brethren, like unto him. He was not 
such a prophet as they expected, who would rescue 
them from the Romans. Though John was a prophet,, 
yea, more than a prophet, yet he had his revelations, 
not as the Old Testament prophets had theirs ; his com- 
mission and work was of another nature, and belonged 
to another dispensation. Being pressed for a positive 
answer, he gave it in the words of Scripture. In very 
humble, modest, self-denying expressions, he applied 
that Scripture to himself, which spake, not his dignity, 
but his duty and dependence. 

The testimony of John concerning Jesus, is supposed 
to have been given just before Christ returned from his 
temptation in the wilderness. 

Andrew and another disciple heard John speafc of 
Christ as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of 
the world, and this made them follow him. The strong- 
est and most prevailing argument with an awakened 
soul to follow Christ, is, that it is he only who takes 
away sin. 

Jesus invites them to come without delay. They 
asked where he lodged, that they might come at a fu- 
ture season; but Christ invites them immediately to 
come and see. 

Hence learn, that it is wisdom to embrace the present 
opportunities; now is the accepted time. 

Andrew persuaded his brother Peter to come to 
Christ. The disciple not named is supposed to have- 
been the evangelist himself. (Eclectic Commentary, 
pages 209, 210.) 



26 



CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 



Xesson XII.— The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany. 

'The Marriage at Cana of Galilee — At the Passoter Jesus 
Drives the Traders out of the Temple — Jesus Foretelleth 
His Death and Resurrection. — Jerusalem. 

John ii. 

And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the 
another of Jesus was there : 

2. And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 

3. And when they wanted wine, tl*e mother of Jesus saith unto 
liim, They have no wine. 

4. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee ? mine 
liour is not yet come. 

5. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto 
you, do it. 

6. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner 
-of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 

7. Jesus saith unto them. Fill the waterpots with water. And they 
"filled them up to the brim. 

8. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the gov- 
ernor of the feast. And they bare it. 

9. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made 
■wine, and knew not whence it was : (but the servants which drew the 
svater knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom. 

10. And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth 
good wine ; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse : 
'but thou hast kept the good wine until now. 

11. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and 
manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. 

12. H After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, 
and his brethren, and his disciples : and they continued there not 
■many days. 

13. IF And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to 
-Jerusalem. 

14. And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and 
doves, and the changers of money sitting : 

15. And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them 
all out of the temple, and the sheep, a; id the oxen ; and poured out 
the changers' money, and overthrew the tables ; 

16. And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; 
make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. 

17. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of 
thine house hath eaten me up. 

18. U Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shew- 
est thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things ? 

19. Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and 
an three days I will raise it up. 

20. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in 
"building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days ? 

21. But he spake of the temple of his body. 

22. When therefore he was risen from the dead, bis disciples remem- 
bered that he had said this unto them; and they^ believed the scrip- 
iture, and the word which Jesus had said. 



THE SUXDAY SCHOOL. 27 



23. % Xc.v when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast 
< y i!/. many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which 
he did. 

24. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew 
all men, 

25. And needed not that an}- should testify of man: for he knew 
what was in man. 



NOTES. 

We are told that the turning of water into wine was 
the beginning of miracles which Jesus did. That herein 
he manifested his glory ; hereby he proved himself to 
be the Son of God, and his glory to be that of the Only 
Begotten of the Father. That his disciples believed on 
him. Those whom he had called, who had seen no 
miracle, and yet followed him, now saw this, and had 
their faith strengthened by it. Even the faith that is 
true, at first is but weak ; but the manifestation of the 
glory of Christ is the great confirmation of the faith of 
Christians. 

The first public work in which we find Christ en- 
gaged, was driving from the temple the mercenary 
traders whom the covetous priests and rulers encour- 
aged to make a market-place of its courts. 

Jesus gave them a good reason why they should not 
profane the temple ; because it was the house of God, 
and not to be made a house of merchandise. It was to 
make the business of religion subservient to a secular 
interest; for the holiness of the place promoted the sale 
of their commodities. (Eclectic Commentary, pases 
212, 213.) 

The oxen, &c, were sold for the convenience of those 
who had to offer them in sacrifice. The changers of 
money changed the Roman into Jewish money, in which 
the temple dues (see Matthew xvii, 24) had to be paid. 
(The Pocket Commentary, J. F. & B., page 121.) 

Christ, having thus purged the temple, gave a sign to 
those who demanded it, to prove his authority for so 
doing. The sign which he gives is, his own death and 
resurrection, which he foretells in figurative expressions. 
(Eclectic Commentary, page 213.) " 



28 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

Lesson XIII.— Septuagresima Sunday. 

The Call of Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John. — 

Near Capernaum. 

The Healing of a Demoniac in the Synagogue. — Capernaum. 

Mark i, 16-28. 

16. Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and An- 
drew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 

17. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make 
you to become fishers of men. 

18. And straightAvay they forsook their nets, and followed him. 

19. And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the 
son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mend- 
ing their nets. 

20. And straightway he called them : and they left their father 
Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him. 

21. And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the Sab- 
bath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. 

22. And they were astonished at his doctrine : for he taught them 
as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 

* 23. And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean 
spirit; and he cried out, 

24. Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus 
of Nazareth ? art thou come to destroy us ? I know thee who thou art, 
the Holy One of God. 

25. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out 
of him. 

26. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a 
loud voice, he came out of him. 

27. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among 
themselves, saying, What thing is this ? what new doctrine is this ? 
for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they 
do obey him. 

28. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the 
region round about Galilee. 



NOTES. 

Septuagesima Sunday occurs about seventy days 
before Easter. 

Though Christ needs not the help of man, he is 
pleased to use it in setting up his kingdom. 

And Christ puts honor upon those who, though mean 
in this world, are diligent in their business and loving 
to one another. 

He found James and John employed, and employed 
together. Industry and unity are good and pleasant, 
and there the Lord Jesus commands the blessing, Fol- 
low me. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 29 

Those Christ calls, must leave all to follow him ; and 
by his grace he inclines them to do so. 

When Christ came into Capernaum, he took the first 
opportunity of preaching the gospel. Christ religiously 
observed the Sabbath day, by applying himself unto, 
and abounding in the Sabbath work, in order to which 
the Sabbath rest was instituted. 

* The devil is here called an unclean spirit, because 
he has lost all the purity of his nature, because he acts 
in direct opposition to the Holy Spirit of God, and 
because with his suggestions he pollutes the spirits of 
men. (Eclectic Commentary, page 108.) 



Lesson XIV.— Sexagesima Sunday. 

Jesus with his Disciples goes erom Capernaum throughout 
Galilee. 

The Healing cf a Leper. — Galilee. 

Matthew iv, 23-25. 

23. 1[ And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their syna- 
gogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all 
manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 

24. And his fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought 
unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and tor- 
ments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which 
were lunatic, and those that had the palsy ; and he healed them. 

25. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, 
and/rom Decapolis, and/ro?;i Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from 
beyond Jordan. 



Mark i, 40-45. 
* 40. And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling 
down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me 
clean. 

41. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth Ids hand, and 
touched him, and saith unto him, I will ; be thou clean. 

42. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed 
from him, and he was cleansed. 

43. And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; 

44. And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man : but go 
thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those 
things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 

45. But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze 
abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter 
into the city, but was without in desert places; and they cinie to him 
from every quarter. 



30 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 



NOTES. 

Sexagesima Sunday occurs about sixty clays before 
Easter. 

We do not now experience the Saviour's miraculous 
healing power to our bodies ; but if we are cured by 
medicine, the praise is equally his. He is the physician 
of our souls; and if we apply to him and follow his 
directions, he will assuredly heal our maladies. (Eclec- 
tic Commentary, page 19.) 

* We have here Christ's cleansing of a leper. It 
teaches us how to apply ourselves to Christ. With 
great humility this leper came beseeching him, and 
kneeling down to him. It teaches us that those who 
would receive grace and mercy from Christ, must 
ascribe honor and glory to Christ, and approach to him 
with humility and reverence. It teaches us what to 
expect from Christ ; that according to our faith it shall 
be to us. (Eclectic Commentary, page 109.) 



Lesson XV.— Gtuinquag-esinia Sunday. 

The Fool of Bethesda; the Healing of the Infirm Man. — 
Jerusalem. 

John v, 1-1 6. 
After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to 
Jerusalem. 

2. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is 
called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 

3. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, 
withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 

4. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and 
troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the 
water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. 

5. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and 
eight years. 

6. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long 
time in that case, he saitti unto him. Wilt thou be made whole ? 

7. The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the 
water is troubled, to put me into the pool : but while I am coming, 
another steppeth down before me. 

8. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 

9. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, 
and walked : and on the same day was the Sabbath. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 31 



• 10. II The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the- 
Sabbath day : it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. 

11. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto 
me. Take up thy bed, and walk. 

12. Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee r 
Take up thy bed, and walk. 

13. And he that was healed wist not who it was : for Jesus had con- 
veyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. 

14. Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him r 
Behold, thou art made whole : sin no more, lest a worse thing come 
unto thee. 

15. The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which 
had made him whole. 

16. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay 
him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day. 

NOTES. 

Quinquagesima Sunday occurs about fifty days before- 
Easter. 

This cure was wrought at a feast of the Jews, prob- 
ably the passover. Christ, though residing in Galilee,, 
went up to Jerusalem at the feast, because it was an 
ordinance of God; thus he would teach us to attend 
religious assemblies. 

Whoever first stepped in was made whole. Here is r 
1st. The miraculous extent of the virtue; what disease 
soever it was, this w T ater cured it, even diseases that 
came from contrary causes. 2d. A miraculous limita- 
tion ; he that first stepped in only had benefit. 

This teaches us to observe and improve our opportu- 
nities, that we slip not a season that may never return. 
The angel stirred the waters, but left the diseased to 
themselves to get in. God has put virtue into the 
scriptures and ordinances; if we do not make due im- 
provement of them, it is our own fault. (Eclectic Com- 
mentary, page 221.) 



Lesson XVI.— The First Sunday in Lent. 

Jonx the Baptist in Prison sends Disciples to Jesus. — The 

Testimony of Jesus concerning John. — Galilee: Capernaum, 

Matthew xi, 2-19. 

2. Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he., 
sent two of his disciples, 



CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 



3. And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look 
for another? 

4. Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again 
those things which ye do hear and see : 

5. The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are 
cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have 
the gospel preached to them. 

6. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. 

7. IF And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes 
•concerning John, "What went ye out into the wilderness to see ? A reed 
shaken with the wind? 

8. But what went ye out for to see ? A man clothed in soft raiment ? 
S^ehold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 

9. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto 
you, and more than a prophet. 

10. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messen- 
ger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 

11. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women 
there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding 
he that is least in the kiugdom of heaven is greater than he. 

12. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom 
•of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 

13. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 

14. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 

15. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 

16. IT But whereunto shall I liken this generation ? It is like unto 
children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, 

17. And saying, We have piped unto yon, and ye have not danced ; 
we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. 

18. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He 
Jaath a devil. 

19. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Be- 
hold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and 
.sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. 



NOTES ON THE FAST OF LENT. 

Lent, in the old Saxon, signifying the Spring, has been 
applied to the Spring fast, or the time of humiliation 
observed by Christians before the festival of Easter. 
This fast, probably, like other Christian observances, is 
of Jewish origin, corresponding with the preparation 
of the Jews for the yearly expiation ; their humiliation 
being forty days before the expiation, and ours is forty 
days before the expiation of the sins of the whole 
world by the death of Christ. From the very first ages 
of Christianity, it was customary for Christians to set 
apart some time for mortification and self-denial, to 
prepare for the solemn feast of Easter. 






THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. S3 



This season of humiliation was observed by the prim- 
tive Christians with the most rigid strictness. 

With a design to punish ourselves for our past trans- 
gressions, and to express our sorrow for them, we should 
practice the duties of abstinence and fasting, according 
;o the circumstances of our health and our outward 
condition in the world. Our external behavior should 
3orrespond with the humiliation and seriousness we 
iow profess. Public assemblies for pleasure and diver- 
sion should therefore now be avoided, and the festivities 
3f social intercourse in some degree abated. The public 
services of the Church should be regularly and rever- 
ently attended; and we should devote a more than 
:isual portion of our time to religious retirement ; to 
self-examination, penitence, and prayer; to acts of 
charity and mercy; especially to devout and serious 
meditation on religious subjects. Eeligious meditation 
Will strengthen our holy purposes, arm us against temp- 
tation, and inflame our souls with earnest desires to 
obtain the favor of God, as our supreme and satisfying 
?ood. (Bishop Hobart's Festivals and Fasts, pages 
148-150. 

NOTES ON THE LESSON. 

We are told in our lesson to-day that John Baptist 
while in prison sends two of his disciples to Jesus. It 
is evident that John's disciples were not in general fully 
satisfied concerning Jesus. John seems therefore to 
have intended to procure them some decisive testimony 
from Jesus himself. The strong ought to consider the 
infirmities of the weak, and such as we cannot help 
ourselves, we should send to those who can. Christ 
points them to what they heard and saw. Our senses 
may and ought to be appealed to in things that are 
their proper objects. (Eclectic Commentary, page 44.) 



34 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

Lesson XVII.— The Second Sunday in Lent. 

The Twelve Instructed and Sent Forth. — Galilee. 
The Seventy Instructed and Sent Out. — Capernaum. 
The Disciples Taught How to Pray. — Near Jerusalem. 
Luke ix, 1-6. 

Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power 
and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 

2. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the 
sick. 

3. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither 
staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money ; neither have two 
coats apiece. 

4. And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence 
depart. 

5. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, 
shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. 

6. And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the 
gospel, and healing every where. 



Luke x, 1-16. 
After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent 
them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he 
himself would come. 

2. Therefore said he unto them. The harvest truly is great, but the 
labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he 
would send forth labourers into his harvest. 

3. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. 

4. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes : and salute no man by 
the way. 

5. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say. Peace be to this 
house. 

6. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it : 
if not, it shall turn to you again. 

7. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things 
as they give : for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from 
house to house. 

8. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such 
things as are set before you : 

9. And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The 
kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 

10. But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go 
your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, 

11. Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do 
wipe off against you: notwithstanding be sure of this, that the king- 
dom of God is come nigh unto you. 

12. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day 
for Sodom, than for that city. 

13. Woe unto thee, Chorazin ! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the 
mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 35 

Ijfou, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and 
Ties. ' 

14. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, 
ian for vou. 

1 15. And thou. Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be 
[rust down to hell. 

16. He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you de- 
isetii me ; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. 



Lake xi, 1-4. 

And it came to pass, that, a? he was praying in a certain place, 

aen he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to 
•av. as John also taught his disciples. 

2. And he said unto them. When ye pray. say. Oar Father which 
tin heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will 
j done, as in heaven, so in earth. 

3. Give us day by day our daily bread. 

4. And forgive us our sins ; for we also forgive every or.e that is 
debted to us. And lead us not into temptation ; but deliver us from 
il. 

NOTES. 

Christ now sent bis twelve disciples abroad, who by 
lis time were able to instruct others, delivering to them 
hat they had received from the Lord. They must not 
ike either bread or money, yet must believe they should 
ot want. (Eclectic Commentary, page 162.) 
Afterwards our Lord sent forth seventy disciples to 
lose places which he himself designed to visit. Christ 
3iit them two and .two, that they might strengthen 
ind encourage one another. 

! Upon this occasion, the evangelist records the par- 
ticular doom of the cities wherein most of Christ's 
1 lighty works were done, 
they did not bring forth fruits agreeable to the ad- 
antages they enjoyed. (Eclectic Commentary, page 
1 66.) 

It becomes the disciples of Christ, to apply themselves 
o him as here for instruction in prayer. Lord, teach 
is to prav, is itself a good prayer, and a very needful 
>ne, for it"is Jesus Christ only that can teach us, by his 
vord and spirit, how to pray. (Eclectic Commentary, 
i)age 169.) 



36 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 



Lesson XVIII.— The Third Sunday in Lent. 

Jesus Receives and Blesses Little Children. — Perea. 

Jesus a Third Time Foretells His Death and Resurrection. — 

Perea. 
Our Lord's Public Entry into Jerusalem. — Bethany, Jerusalem. 

Luke xviii, 15-17. 

15. And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch 
them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 

16. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children 
to come unto me, and forbid them not : for of such is the kingdom of 
God. 

17. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom 
of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. 



Luke xviii, 31-34. 
*31. If Then he took unto him the twelve/and said unto them, Behold, 
we go up to Jerusalem, and all things thatare written by the prophets 
concerning the Sod of man shall be accomplished. 

1 32. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be 
mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on : 

1 33. And they shall scourge him, and put him to death : and the 
third day he shall rise again. 

34. And they understood none of these things : and this saying was 
hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. 

Luke xix, 29-44. 

29. And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and 
Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his 
disciples, 

30. Saying, Go ye into the village over against you: in the which 
at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat : 
loose him, and bring him hither. 

31. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him ? thus shall ye 
say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. 

32. And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he 
had said unto them. 

33. And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unt» 
them, Why loose ye the colt? 

34. And they said, The Lord hath need of him. 

35. And they brought him to Jesus : and they cast their garments 
upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. 

36. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. 

37. And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the 
mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice 
and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they 
had seen : 

38. Saying, Blessed he the King that cometh in the name of the 
Lord : peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 37 



39. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto 
him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 

40. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these 
should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. 

41. *fi And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept 
! over it. 

42. Saying,, if thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy 
day, the things which belong unto thy peace ! but now they are hid from 
thine eyes. 

43. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast 
a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on 
every side. 

44. And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children 
within thee ; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another ; 
because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. 

NOTES. 

So welcome are children to Christ, that those grown 
people are most welcome to him who have most of the 
disposition of children ; not pretending to merit as the 
pharisee did, but gladly owning themselves indebted to 
free grace as the publican. We must receive that 
kingdom as children, not by purchase, and must call it 
our Father's gift. 

* The Spirit of Christ, in the Old Testament prophets, 
testified beforehand his sufferings, and the glory that 
should follow. 

t The ignominy and disgrace done to Christ in his 
sufferings, are here insisted upon. But here, as always, 
when Christ spake of his sufferings and death, he fore- 
told his resurrection as taking away both the terror and 
reproach of his sufferings, (Eclectic Commentary, 
page 186.) 

We have here the account of Christ's riding in tri- 
umph into Jerusalem. When he came nigh to Jerusa- 
lem, God put it of a sudden into the hearts of the whole 
multitude of the disciples to rejoice and praise God; 
i and their spreading of their clothes in the way was a 
! common expression of joy, as at the feast of tabernacles. 
They expressed joy and praise ; Blessed be the King 
that comes in the name of the Lord. Christ's triumphs, 
and his disciples' joyful praises, vex proud pharisees, 
who are enemies to him and to his kingdom. (Eclectic 
Commentary, page 188.) 



38 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

When Jesus came near to Jerusalem, instead of being; 
affected by thoughts of the sufferings that awaited him 
he foresaw with compassion the miseries coming on 
that ungrateful persecuting city, by the aw T ful justice 
of God. But her day of mercy was then expired, hei 
eyes were blinded, her doom was passed. Our Lore 
therefore foretold the entire destruction of the city anc 
the havoc that should be made of its inhabitants, be 
cause they knew not the time of their visitation, anc 
rejected and would crucify, their King. {Howe — Eclectic 
Commentary, page 189.) 



Lesson XIX.— The Fourth Sunday in Lent. 

The Rulers Conspire. — Treachery of Judas.— The Lord's Sup 

per.— The Agony in Gethsemane. — Jesus Betrayed and madi 

Prisoner. — Jesus before Caiaphas. — Peter thrice Denied 

Him. — Jesus is Condemned and Mocked. — Jerusalem, Bethany 

Mount of Olives. 

Luke xxii. 

Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called tht 
Passover. 

2. And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him 
for they feared the people. 

3. 1[ Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of th<, 
number of the twelve. 

4. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests anc 
captains, how he might betray him unto them. 

5. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. 

6. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him untc 
them in the absence of the multitude. 

7. H Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passove; 
must be killed. 

8. And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the pass 
over, that we may eat. 

9. And they said unto him, "Where wilt thou that we prepare? 

10. And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the 
city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow 
him into the house where he entereth in. 

11. And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master 
saith unto tiiee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the pass 
over with my disciples '? 

12. And he shall show you a large uppor room furnished : ther 
make readv. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 39 

13. And they went and found as he had said unto them : and they 
I made ready the passover. 

14. And" when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve 
apostles with him. 

15. And he said unto them, "With desire I have desired to eat this 
passover with you before I suffer: 

16. For I say unto you, I will not anj' more eat thereof, until it be 
fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 

17. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and 
1 divide it among yourselves: 

18. For I say unto you. I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until 
the kingdom of God shall come. 

19. 5" And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave 
unto them, saying. This is my body which is given for you : this do in 
remembrance of me. 

20. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new 
testament in my blood, which is shed for you. 

21. IT But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on 
the table. 

22. And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe 
unto that man by whom he is betrayed. 

23. And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them 
it was that should do this thing. 

24. TT And there was also a strife among them, which of them should 
be accounted the greatest. 

25. And he said unto them, the kings of the Gentiles exercise lord- 
ship over them ; and they that exercise authority upon them are called 

■ ; benefactors. 

26. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let 
him be as the younger : and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. 

I 27. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that 
serveth ? is not be that sitteth at meat ? but I am among you as he 
, that serveth. 

28. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. 

29. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed 
unto me; 

30. That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and 
sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 

31. ff And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired 
to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 

32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when 
thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 

33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both 
into prison, and to death, 

34. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, 
before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. 

35. And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, 
and shoes, lacked ye any thing ? And they said, Nothing. 

36. Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him 
take it, and likewise his scrip ; and he that hath no sword, let him 
sell his garment, and buy one. 

37. For I say unto you, that this that is written, must yet be accom- 
plished in me. And he was reckoned among the transgressors ; for the 
things concerning me haye an end. 






40 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 



38. And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said 
unto them, It is enough. 

39. If And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of 
Olives ; and his disciples also followed him. 

40. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye 
enter not into temptation. 

41. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and 
kneeled down, and prayed. 

42. Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; 
nevertheles not my will, but thine, be done. 

43. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthen- 
ing him. 

44. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly ; and his sweat 
was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 

45. And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples r 
he found them sleeping for sorrow. 

46. And said unto them, Why sleep ye ? rise and pray, lest ye enter 
into temptation. 

47. U And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was 
called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto 
Jesus to kiss him. 

48. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man 
with a kiss? 

49. When they which were about him saw what would follow, they 
said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword ? 

50. TT And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut 
Off his right ear. 

51. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched 
his ear, and healed him. 

52. Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the 
temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as 
against a thief, with swords and staves ? 

53. When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no 
hands against me ; but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. 

54. TT Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the 
high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. 

55. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and 
were set down together, Peter sat down among them. 

56. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and ear- 
nestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. 

57. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. 

58. And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also 
of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. 

59. And about the space of one hour after, another confidently 
affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him ; for he is 
a Oalilaean. 

60. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And im- 
mediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. 

61. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter 
remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before 
the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 

62. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. 

63. IT And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote Jam. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 41 



64. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the 
face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee ? 

65. And many other things blasphemously spake they against him. 

66. IT And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the 
chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their 
council, saying, 

67. Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell 
you, 3'e will not believe. 

68. And if I also ask you. ye will not answer me, nor let me go. 

69. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the 
power of God. 

70. Then said they all. Art thou then the Son of God ? And he said 
unto them, Ye say that I am. 

71. And they said. What need we any farther witness ? for we our- 
selves have heard of his own mouth. 



NOTES. 

Here we have Christ's sworn enemies contriving his 
death ; the chief priests, men of sanctity, and the scribes, 
men of learning, seeking how they might kill him, either 
by force or fraud. A treacherous disciple joined them. 
Satan entered into Judas. It was the devil's work, who 
thought hereby to ruin Christ's undertaking, to have 
broken his head, but it proved only the bruising of his 
heel. Whoever betrays Christ, or his truths, or ways, it 
is Satan that puts them up to it. (Eclectic Commentary, 
page 194.) 

The passover and the deliverance out of Egypt were 
typical and prophetic signs of a Christ to come, who 
should, by dying, deliver us from sin and death, and the 
tyranny of Satan; but the greater deliverance shall 
eclipse the lustre of the lesser. Therefore the Lord's 
supper is instituted to be a commemorative sign or me- 
morial of a Christ already come, who by dying deliv- 
ered us; his death is in special manner set before us in 
that ordinance. (Eclectic Commentary, page 195.) 

Christians are called to participate in the holy com- 
munion by the command of their blessed Lord, to whom 
they are b^nnd by the dearest ties of gratitude. (Bish. 
Hobart's F. and F., page 168) 

The Agony in the garden. — While we with thankful- 
ness take the cup of salvation, and rejoice in the loving 
kindness of the Lord, let us never forget the cup of 
wrath which our Redeemer drank to the very dregs 



42 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

for the remission of our sins. If we were not indeed 
drowsy in spiritual things, we could never read or medi- 
tate on what passed at Gethsemane without beiug deeply 
affected, and remembering much that might profit us. 
(Eclectic Commentary, page 196.) 

Christ betrayed. — Luke notices the question Christ 
asked Judas, which we have not in the other evangelists ; 
Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss ? Is 
that the signal ? As if anything could be concealed from 
him. Must the badge of friendship be the instrument 
of treachery? (Eclectic Commentary, page 196.) 



Lesson XX.— The Fifth Sunday in Lent. 

Jesus is Accused before Pilate, and Sent to Herod. — Herod 
Mocketh Him. — Jesus is Given to be Crucified.— Jerusalem. 

Luke xxiii, 1-25. 

And the whole multitude of them arose, and led- him unto Pilate. 

2. And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow 
perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying 
that he himself is Christ a King. 

3. And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews ? 
And he answered him and said, Thou say est it. 

4. Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no 
fault in this man. 

5. And they were tfie more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, 
teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. 

6. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a 
Galilaean. 

7. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdic- 
tion, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that 
time. 

8. IT And when He*>d saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he 
was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many 
things of him ; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. 

9. Then he questioned with him in many words : Imt he answered 
him nothing. 

10. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused 

11. And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked 
Mm, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and .sent him again to 
Pilate. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 43 

12. f And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends to- 
gether : for before they were at enmity between themselves. 

13. f And Pilate, when he had culled together the chief priests 
and the rulers and the people, 

14. Said unto them. Ye have brought this man unto me. as one that 
perverteth the people : and behold, I. having examined Mm before 
you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof 
ye accuse him : ' ^ 

15. No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and lo, nothing 
worthy of death is done unto him. 

16. I will therefore chastise him and release him. 

17. (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) 

18. And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, 
and release unto us Barabbas : 

19. (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, 
was cast into prison.) 

20. Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. 

21. But they cried, saying, Crucify Mm, crucify him. 

22. And he'said unto them the third time. Why. what evil hath he 
dene '? I have found no cause of death in him : I will therefore chastise 
him, and let Mm go. 

23. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might 
be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests pre- 
vailed. . 

24. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. 

25. And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder 
was cast into prison, whom they had desired : but he delivered Jesus 
to their will. 



John xix, 1-16. 

Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged Mm. 

2. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his 
head, and they put on him a purple robe. 

3. And said, Hail, King of the Jews ! and they smote him with their 
hands. 

4. Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I 
bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. 

5. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the 
purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them. Behold the man ! 

6. When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried 
out, saying, Crucif}' him, crucify Mm. Pilate saith unto them, Take 
ye him. and crucify him ': for I find no fault in him. 

7. The Jews answered him. We have a law, and by our law he 
ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. 

p 8. ^[When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more 
afraid : 

9. And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, 
Whence art thou ? But Jesus gave him no answer. 

10. Then saith Pilate unto him. Speakest thou not unto me? know- 
est thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to re- 
lease thee ? 






44 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 



11. Jesus, answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against 
me, except it were given thee from above : therefore he that delivered 
me unto thee hath the greater sin. 

12. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him : but the 
Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's 
friend : whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. 

13. IfWhen Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus 
forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the 
Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. 

14. And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth 
hour : and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King ! 

15. But they cried out, Away with him i away with him, crucify 
him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King ? The chief 
priests answered, We have no king but Caesai*. 

16. Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And 
they took Jesus, and led Mm away. 



NOTES. 

The accusers mentioned Galilee, the northern part of 
Canaan. Send him to Herod then, said b Pilate, since 
he belongs to Herod's jurisdiction. Pilate was desirous 
to rid his hands of the matter. # But God ordered it so 
for the more evident fulfilling of the scripture. Herod, 
who had been acquainted with John Baptist, and had 
more knowledge of Christ than Pilate, was more 
abusive to Christ : for knowledge without grace does 
but make men the more ingeniously wicked. Herod 
returned him to Pilate. (Eclectic Commentary, page 
198.) 



Lesson XXI.— The Sunday next before Easter . 

Jesus is Led Away to be Crucified. — The Crucifixion. — Dark- 
ness Prevails. — Jesus Expires on The Cross. — The Burial. — 

Jerusalem. 

Luke xxiii, 26-56. 

26. And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a 
Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, 
that he might bear it after Jesus. 

27. U And there followed him a great company of people, and of 
women, which also bewailed and lamented him. 

28. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, 
weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. 

29. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, 
Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps 
which never gave suck. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 4o 

30. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us ; and 
to the hills. Cover us. 

31. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in 
the dry ? 

32. And there were also two other malefactors, led with him to be 
put to death. 

33. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, 
there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, 
and the other on the left. 

34. *[ Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them ; for they know not 
what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 

35. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them 
derided him, saying, He saved others ; let him save himself, if he be 
Christ, the chosen of God. 

36. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering 
him vinegar. 

37. And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. 

38. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, 
and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KIXG OF THE JEWS. 

39. IT And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, 
saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 

40. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou 
fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation '? 

41. And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our 
deeds : but this man hath done nothing amiss. 

42. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest 
into thy kingdom. 

43. And Jesus said unto him, Yerily I say unto thee, To day shalt 
thou be with me in paradise 

44. And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over 
all the earth until the ninth hour. 

45. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent 
in the midst. 

46. ^ And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, 
into thy hands I commend my spirit : and having said thus, he gave 
up the ghost. 

47. Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, 
saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. 

48. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding 
the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. 

49. And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him 
from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things. 

50. IT And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor ; 
and he was a good man, and a just : 

51. (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them : ) 
he ivas of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited 
for the kingdom of God. 

52. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. 

53. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a 
sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. 

54. And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. 

55. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, fol- 
lowed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. 

56. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and 
rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. 



46 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

NOTES. 

^Ye have here the blessed Jesus, the Lamb of God, 
led as a lamb to the slaughter, to the sacrifice. Observe 
how quickly they hurried this forward. He was brought 
before the chief priests at break of day, after that to 
Pilate, then to Herod, then to Pilate again ; and there 
was a struggle between Pilate and the people about 
him. He was scourged, crowned with thorns, contu- 
meliously used ; all this was done in a few hours, for he 
was crucified between nine o'clock and twelve. (Eclec- 
tic Commentary, page 199.) 

The Church celebrates on Good Friday, the fast which 
commemorates the sufferings and death of Christ. This 
day is called Good Friday, from the exalted good which 
we derive from the sufferings of Christ ; who, " by the 
shedding of his own blood, obtained eternal redemption 
for us." 

After the Saviour had been buffeted, scourged, spit 
upon, and mocked by the people and their rulers, he 
suffered the painful and ignominious death of the cross. 

Crucifixion was a Roman punishment, and considered 
as the most ignominious and painful: it was painful, 
because those parts of the body which are most sensible 
of pain were pierced with nails, and the death was 
lingering; and the punishment of crucifixion was igno- 
minious, because it was inflicted only upon the vilest 
criminals. 

Since it was necessary that the Son of God should 
take upon him our nature, and suffer and die to atone 
for our sins, we should learn the infinite evil and guilt 
of sin, and should be excited sincerely and deeply to 
confess our unworthiness, and renounce our sins. The 
sufferings of Christ should impress us with a lively 
sense of his infinite love toward us. and excite us grate- 
fully and zealously to serve him. The contemplation 
of the sufferings of the Son of God for us, who were 
his enemies, is one of the most powerful means of sub- 
duing in our hearts the emotions of malice and re- 
venge, and of cherishing the sentiments*of benevolence , 
and charity. (Bishop Hobart's Festivals and Fasts, 
pages 169, 172, 174.) 



THE SUJSDAY SCHOOL. 4*T 

XXII.— Easter Sunday. 

ORNING OF THE RESURRECTION. — VlSIT OF THE "WOMEN TO THE. 

Sepulchre. — Jerusalem. 

Luke xxiv, 1-12. 
Xow upon the first cloy of the week, very early in the morniDg, they 
came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which- they had pre- 
pared, and certain others with them. 

2. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 

3. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 

4. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, 
behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 

5. And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth r 
they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead ? 

6. He is not here, but is risen; remember how he spake unto you 
when he was yet in Galilee, 

7. Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of 
sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 

8. And they remembered his words, 

9. And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto 
the eleven, and to all the rest. 

10. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of 
James, and other women that were with them, which told these things 
unto the apostles. 

11. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed 
them not. 

12. Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre: and stooping 
down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, 
wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. 



NOTES. 

The Church this day commemorates the glorious 
event of our Saviour's resurrection. This festival, for 
antiquity and excellence, takes the precedence of all 
other festivals. It was observed from the very first 
ages; the only dispute being, not about the propriety 
of the festival itself, but about the proper day on which 
it was to be observed. 

The observation of Easter was at length fixed to one 
and the same day, by the great general Council of Nice. 
(A. D. 325.) (Bishop llobart's Festivals and Fasts, 
page 181.) 

The manner of the reunion of Christ's soul and body 
in his resurrection is a mystery, one of the secret things 
that belong not to us ; but the infallible proofs of his 
resurrection, that he did indeed rise from the dead, and. 



48 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

was thereby proved to be the Son of God, are things 
revealed. 

We have here the affection and respect which the 
women showed to Christ, after he was dead and buried. 
As soon as they could, after the Sabbath was over, they 
came to the sepulchre to anoint the body, and to scatter 
sweet spices upon and about it. 

Observe their surprise when they found the stone 
Tolled away, and the grave empty. 

Christians often perplex themselves about that with 
which they should comfort and encourage themselves. 

Peter now ran to the sepulchre, who so lately ran 
from his Master. He was very particular in making 
his observations, and went away wondering himself at 
that which was come to pass. Had he remembered the 
words of Christ, even this was enough to satisfy him 
that he was risen from the dead. There are many 
things puzzling and perplexing to us which would be 
both plain and profitable, if we did but rightly under- 
stand the words of Christ, and had them ready to us. 
(Eclectic Commentary, page 201.) 

Christ, by his resurrection from the dead, hath as- 
sured to Christians an immortal inheritance. As then 
we are " risen with him," we should " set our affections 
on things above." (Bishop Hobart's Festivals and 
Fasts, page 192.) 



Lesson XXIII.— The First Sunday after Easter. 

Our Lord is Seen of Peter.— Then by Two Disciples on the way 
to Emmaus. — Jerusalem, Emmaus. 
1 Cor. xv, 5. 
5. And that he was seen of Cephas. 

Luke xxiv, 13-35. 

13. % And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village 
called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about three score furlongs. 

14. And they talked ^together of all these things which had hap- 
pened. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 49 

15. And it came to pass, that, while they co.nmuned together and 
reasoned,, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 

16. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 

17. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are 
these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad ? 

18. And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said 
unto Him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known 
the things which are come to pass there in these days ? 

19. And he said unto them, What things ? And they said unto him, 
Concerning Jesus of Xazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed 
and word before God and all the people: 

20. And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be 
condemned to death, and have crucified him. 

21. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed 
Israel : and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things 
were done. 

22. Yea, and certain women also of our company made usastonished T 
which were early at the sepulchre; 

23. And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that 
they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 

24. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, 
and found it even so as the women had said : but him they saw not. 

25. Then he said unto them, fools, and slow of heart to believe all 
that the prophets have spoken : 

26. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into 
his glory ? 

27. And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded 
unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 

28. And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went : and 
he made as though he would have gone further. 

29. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is to- 
ward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry 
with them. 

30. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them^ he took bread, 
and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 

31. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him ; and he van- 
ished out of their sight. 

32. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us. 
while he talked with us by the way, and while he -opened to us the 
scriptures ? 

33. And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and 
found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them. 

34. Saying, the Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 

35. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he 
was known of them in breaking of bread. 

NOTES. 

This appearance of Christ to the two disciples going 
to Einmaus, is here largely related. It happened the 
same day that Christ rose. They went to a village 
called Einmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. As 






50 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

they travelled they talked together of all those things 
which had happened. Jesus himself came and joinec 
them. They were sad. They had lost their deal 
master, and were, in their own apprehensions, quit< 
disappointed in their expectations from him. 

Our Lord Jesus reproves them for the weakness o 
their faith in the scriptures of the Old Testament. 

Beginning at Moses, the first inspired writer of the 
Old Testament, Jesus expounded to them the things 
concerning himself; showing that the sufferings he had 
now gone through were the accomplishment of the 
prophecies. 

Our Lord at length discovered himself to4he disciples. 
They drew nigh to the village whither they went. And 
now, he would have gone further, if they had not 
courted his stay. Those that would have Christ dwell 
with them, must invite him, and be importunate with 
him ; though he is often found of those who seek 
him not, yet those only that seek, can be sure to find. 
If he seem to draw off from us, it is but to draw out 
our importunity ; as here Unconstrained him. Christ 
has promised that if any man open the door, to bid him 
welcome, he will come in to him. (Eclectic Commen- 
tary, pages 202, 203 ) 



Lesson XXIV.— The Second Sunday after Easter. 

Jesus Appears in the Midst of the Apostles, Thomas being? 

Absent. — Jerusalem. 

1 Cor., xv, 5. 
5. Then of the twelve. 

Luke xxiv, 36-49. 

36. If And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of 
them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 

37. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they 
had seen a spirit. 

38. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do 
thoughts arise in your hearts ? 

39. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I*my self : handle me 
and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 51 

40. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and 
his feet. 

41. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said 
unto them, Have ye here any meat ? 

42. And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of a honeycomb. 
43. And he*took it, and did eat before them. 

44. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto 
you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which 
were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the 
psalms, concerning me. 

45. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand 
the Scriptures. 

46. And said unto them, Thus iC is written, and thus it behooved 
Christ to suffer, and to rise from the de.id the third day : 

47. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached 
in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 

48. And ye are witnesses of these things. 

49. ^T And, bahold, I send the promise of my father upon you : but 
tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power f.om 
on high. 

NOTES. 

While the disciples were discoursing, Jesus was 
pleasedto appear in the midst of them in a miraculous 
manner, assuring them of his peace, his entire recon- 
ciliation, though they had so lately forsaken him, prom- 
ising spiritual peace and every blessing. Yet, after all, 
they were greatly alarmed, as if they had seen a spirit. 
Jesus spake with them on their unreasonable unbelief, 
seeing that every circumstance so well agreed with his 
former declarations, and should inspire them with joy 
and confidence. 

Christ wrought upon their minds in a manner which 
they themselves were sensible of. Observe that Jesus 
Christ by his Spirit operates on the minds of men. 

He has access to our spirits, and can immediately 
influence them. Even good men need to have their 
understandings opened. The Spirit in the word, and 
the Spirit in the heart, say the same thing. That we 
may have right thoughts of Christ, there needs no 
more than to be made to understand the Scriptures. 
(Eclectic Commentary, pages 203, 204.) 



52 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

Lesson XXV.— The Third Sunday after Easter. 
Jesus Appears in the Midst of the Apostles, Thomas being 

Present. — Jerusalem. 
Jesus Shews Himself toS&ven of His Disciples at the Sea 

of Tiberias. — Galilee. 
He Dineth with them. 

John xx, 24-29. 

* 24. IT But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not 
with them when Jesus came. 

25. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the 
Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the 
print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and 
thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 

f 23. II And after eight days again his disciples were within, and 
Thomas with them: then ca.me Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood 
in the midst, and said. Peace be unto you. 

27. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold 
my hands ; and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side : and 
be not faithless, but believing. 

28. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my 
God. 

29. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou 
hast believed : blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have be- 
lieved. 

John xxi, 1-14. 

t After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at 
the sea of Tiberias ; and on this wise shewed he himself. 

2. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, 
and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two 
other of his disciples. 

3. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, 
"We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship 
immediately ; and that night they caught nothing. 

4. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore 
but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus- 

5. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They 
answered him, No. 

6. And hs said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, 
and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able 
to draw it for the multitude of fishes. 

7. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is 
the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt 
Tit's fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself 
into the sea. 

8. And the other disciples came in a little ship ; (for they were not 
far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net 
with fishes. 

9. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals 
there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 53 



10. Jesus saith ]unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now 
caught. 

11. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great 
fishes, an hundred and fifty and three : and for all there were so many, 
yet was not the net broken. 

12. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the dis- 
ciples durst ask him, Who art thou ?" knowing that it was the Lord. 

33. Jesus then cometh, andtaketh bread, and giveth them, and fish 
likewise. 

14. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his 
disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. 



NOTES. 

* Thomas, by his absence, missed the satisfaction of 
seeing his Master risen, and of sharing with the disci- 
ples in their joy upon that occasion. Thomas raised 
objections to justify himself in his unwillingness to 
believe that his Lord was risen. He either had not 
heeded, or had not duly regarded what Christ had so 
often said, according to the Old Testament, that he 
would rise again the third day. 

t We have here an account of another appearance of 
Christ to his disciples, after his resurrection, when 
Thomas was with them. That one day in seven should 
be religiously observed was an appointment from the 
beginning ; and that, in the kingdom of the Messiah, 
the first day of the week should be that solemn day— 
this was indication enough, that Christ on that day once 
and again met his disciples in a religious assembly. The 
religious observance of that day has been from thence 
transmitted down to us through every age of the 
Church. This, therefore, is the day which the Lord 
has made. Christ singled Thomas' from the rest, and 
told him to satisfy his curiosity to the utmost. Here 
we have a rebuke of Thomas' unbelief in the plain 
reference to what Thomas had said. There is not an 
unbelieving word in our tongues, nor thought in our 
minds, at any time, but it is known to the Lord Jesus. 
(Eclectic Commentary, page 268.) 

I Christ now showed himself to seven apostles. It is 
good to keep account of Christ's gracious visits; for he 
keeps account of them, and they will be remembered 
against us if we walk unworthily of them. 



54 church teachings for 

This is now the third ; have we made due improve- 
ment of the first and second ? (Eclectic Commentary 
pages 269, 270.) 



Lesson XXVI.— The Fourth Sunday after Easter. 

Jesus Earnestly Commandeth Peter to Feed his Lambs and 
Sheep, and Rebuketh his Curiosity Touching John. — Jesus 
Meets the Apostles and aboye Fiye Hundred Brethren on 
a Mountain in Galilee.— Galilee. 

John xxi, 15-24. 

15. If So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, 
son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, 
Yea, Lord : thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed 
my lambs. 

16. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, 
lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord: thou knowest that 
I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 

17. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest 
thou me ? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, 
Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all 
things ; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed 
my sheep. 

18. Verily, verity, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou 
girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest : but when 
thou shalt be old. thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another 
shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. 

19. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. 
And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. 

20. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved 
following ; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord 
which is he that betrayeth thee ? 

21. Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man 
do? 

* 22. Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what 
is that to thee ? follow thou me. 

23. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that 
disciple should not die : yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; 
but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? 

24. This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote 
these things : and we know that his testimony is true. 

Matthew xxviii, 16-20. 

16. If Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a 
mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 

17. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some 
doubted. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 55 



18. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying. All power is 
given unto me in heaven and in earth. 

19. 1T Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the 
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost : 

20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have com- 
manded you : and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the 
world. Amen. 

1 Cor. xv, 6. 

6. After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once ; 
of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are 
fallen asleep. 



NOTES. 

We may suppose Peter fall of doubts upon what 
terms he stood with his Master. 

At length, Christ said what he had to say to him. He 
discoursed with him, not as with a criminal, but as a 
friend. Peter had reproached himself, and therefore 
Christ did not reproach him. 

Peter had, before his fall, boasted that though all 
men were offended, yet he would not be so. He now 
answered, Thou knowest that I love thee ; but without 
professing to love Jesus more than others. It is well 
when our faults and mistakes render us more humble 
and watchful. 

Jesus called upon Peter to signify his readiness to 
adhere to his cause, even to death, by rising up and 
following him. This Peter did without hesitation. 

* Most probably Jesus meant his coming to execute 
vengeance on the Jewish nation ; but the disciples had 
a confused idea that Christ meant John should live till 
his coming to judge the world, or that he would be 
translated to heaven. The words had no such mean- 
ing. John lived till after the destruction of Jerusalem ; 
he survived the other apostles, and then died in old 
age. (Eclectic Commentary, page 270.) 






56 CHURCEI TEACHINGS FOR 

Lesson XXVII.— The Fifth Sunday after Easter. 

Our Lord is Seen of James; Then op All the Apostles. — 

Jerusalem. 

The Ascension.— Bethany. 

1 Cor. xv, 7. 

7. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 

Acts I, 1-14. 

The former treatise have I made, Theophilus, of all that Jesus 
began both to do and teach. 

2. Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through 
the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he 
had chosen : 

3. To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many 
infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the 
things pertaining to the kingdom of God : 

4. And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that 
they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of 
the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 

5. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized 
with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 

6. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, say- 
ing, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel ? 

7. And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or 
the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come 
upon you : and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and 
in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost par tof the earth. 

9. .And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was 
taken up : and a cloud received him out of their sight. 

10. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, 
behold, two men stood by them in white apparel ; 

11. Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into 
heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, 
shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 

12. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called 
Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. 

13. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, 
"Where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, 
and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, 
and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 

14. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, 
with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. 

NOTES. 

The commemoration of Christ's ascension at the ex- 
piration of forty days after the resurrection, has always 
been observed as a festival in the Church. (Bishop 
Hobart's Festivals and Fasts, page 203.) 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 57 

The apostles assembled at Jerusalem, by Christ's 
command, he having ordered them not to depart thence, 
but to wait for the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, 
which he had promised to send. He points out their 
work, and with authority assures them of ability to 
go on with it, and of success. 

Having left these instructions with them, Christ was 
gradually taken up, and a cloud received him out of 
their sight. 

The attention and hope of christians are now directed 
to the second appearance of their Saviour. The ancient 
church looked for his coming in the flesh ; we, accord- 
ing to his promise, look for his coming in glory. 
(Eclectic Commentary, pages 273, 274.) 

The ascension of Cbrist was declared prophetically 
by the psalmist : " Thou hast ascended on high ; thou 
hast led captivity captive ; thou hast received gifts for 
men." (Psalm lxviii, 18.) (Bishop Hobart's Festivals 
and Fasts, page 205.) 

Since Christ, our divine forerunner and head, hath 
ascended into the heavens, we should also seek the 
things that are above. (Bishop Hobart's Festivals and 
Fasts, page 207.) 



Lesson XXVIII.— Sunday after Ascension-day. 

Matthias is Chosen an Apostle in Place of Judas.— Jerusalem 
Acts I, 15-26. 

15. H And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples,, 
and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and 
twenty.) 

16. Men and brethren, this scripture must needs hare been fulfilled r 
which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning 
Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. 

17. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this 
ministry. 

IS. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity^ 
and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his 
bowels gushed out. 

19. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem ; insomuch 
as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, 
The field of blood. 



•58 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 



20. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be 
desolate, and let no man dwell therein : and his bishoprick let another 
take. 

21. "Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the 
time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us. 

22. Beginning from the Baptism of John, unto that same day that 
he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with 
us of his resurrection. 

23. And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was sur- 
named Justus, and Matthias. 

24. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the 
hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, 

25. That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from 
which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. 

26. And they gave forth their lots ; and the lot fell upon Matthias ; 
and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. 



NOTES. 

The whole number of disciples at this time assembled 
was one hundred and twenty, though we may conclude 
that others believed on Christ in different parts of the 
land. While uniting together in constant prayer, Peter, 
doubtless by divine admonition, proposed to appoint 
another apostle in the place of the traitor Judas. An 
appeal was made to God as the teacher of hearts. 
They desire to know which of these God had chosen. 
Lord, show us that, and we are satisfied. In answer 
to this appeal, the Lord was pleased to direct the lot to 
fall upon Matthias. The lot is cast into the lap, but, 
casual as the determination may seem, the whole dis- 
posal thereof is from the Lord. Let us own his hand 
in the determination of every circumstance which be- 
falls us, and especially in those by which any solemn 
and important trust may be committed to us. And 
may the consideration of this be an additional engage- 
ment upon us to discharge it with becoming diligence 
and entire fidelity. (Eclectic Commentary, pages 274, 
275.) 

Our Saviour chose twelve Apostles, probably in allu- 
sion to the twelve patriarchs, as the founders of their 
several tribes, or to the twelve chief heads or rulers of 
the tribes of Israel. (Matthew xix, 28.) (Bishop 
Hobart's Festivals and Fasts, page 155.) 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 59 



Lesson XXIX.— Whit-Sunday. 

The Descent of the Holy Ghost. 
Acts II, 1-11. 
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with 
one accord in one place. 

2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing- 
mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting . 

3. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and 
it sat upon each of them. 

4. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak 
with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

5. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out ot 
every nation under heaven. 

6. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, 
and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in 
his own language. 

7. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another,. 
Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans ? 

8. And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we 
were born f 

9. Parthians, and Medes,and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopor 
tamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 

16. Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libyan 
about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 

11. Cretes and Ar ibians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the 
wonderful works of God. 



NOTES. 

The Church, in the festival of this day, commemorates- 
the gift of the Holy Ghost, who this day visibly de- 
scended upon the apostles. The feast of Pentecost 
among the Jews, instituted in memory of the delivery 
of the law on mount Sinai, became afterwards dis- 
tinguished by the descent of the Holy Ghost on the 
apostles, enabling them to promulgate that spiritual 
law, which was the perfection and consummation of 
the law delivered on mount Sinai. This festival, there- 
fore, corresponds to the feast of Pentecost among the 
Jews ; and it has been observed from the very first ages 
of Christianity. This festival was, perhaps, styled 
metaphorically Whit- Sunday, that is White- Sunday, from 
the diffusion of light which in this day fell on the 
apostles, and enabled them to become "lights to lighten 
the world ; " or it was so called, from its being one of 
the two principal seasons of baptism, when all who 



60 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

^vere baptized wore white garments, in token of the 
spiritual purity which baptism designated, and the 
innocence of life to which they then bound themselves. 
The ordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit are those which 
are given for the personal sanctification of individuals. 
Man, as a fallen creature, stands in need of deliverance 
from the guilt and power of sins past, and an emanci- 
pation from the power of sin, present and future. We 
may obtain these ordinary influences of the Holy Spirit, 
by the use of those means which God has appointed for 
the purpose, and which are therefore called the means 
of grace; by humble, sincere, and earnest prayer; by 
frequently reading and hearing God's holy word ; and 
especially by a devout and uniform attendance on the 
ordinances of the Church; for to the Church, as his 
body, Christ has given his Holy Spirit ; and by union 
with the Church, by the participation of its ordinances, 
we derive the influences of this Spirit. (Bishop Hobart's 
Festivals and Fasts, pages 209, 213, 216.) 



Lesson XXX.— Trinity-Sunday. 

Je3us Teacheth Nicodemus the Necessity of Regeneration, and 
of Faith in His Death. — Jerusalem. 

John iii, 1-15. 
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of 
the Jews: 

2. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we 
know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these 
miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. _ 

3. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 

4. Nicodemus saitlrunto him, How can a man be born when he is 
old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be 
born ? 

5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be 
born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of 
God. 

6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh ; and that which is born of 
the Spirit is spirit. 

7. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 61 



8. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound 
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth : so 
is every one that is born of the Spirit. 

9. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things 
be? 

10. Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, 
and knowest not these things ? 

11. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, "We speak that we do know, and 
testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 

12. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall 
ye believe if I tell you o/heavenly things ? 

13. And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down 
from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 

14. TT And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so 
must the Son of man be lifted up: 

15. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have 
eternal life. 



NOTES. 

This festival, in commemoration of the doctrine of 
the ever blessed Trinity, is comparatively of modern 
date. As the praises of the Trinity were every day 
celebrated in the doxology, hymns, and creeds, the 
ancient Church thought there was no need to set apart 
one particular day for that which was done in each. 
This Sunday, therefore, was originally no otherwise 
distinguished than as an octave of Pentecost. The 
Church, however, in consequence of the heresies of 
Arius and others, who opposed this divine mystery, 
thought proper to order that the mystery of the Trinity 
should be more solemnly commemorated on a particular 
day. 

The Church having celebrated in order all the greater 
festivals, the Nativity, Epiphany, Resurrection, Ascen- 
sion of our Lord, and the Descent of the Holy Ghost, 
concludes these solemnities with a festival of full, 
special, and express service to the honour of the holy, 
blessed, and glorious Trinity. (Bishop Hobart's Fes- 
tivals and Fasts, page 218.) 

Nicodemus,a principal man among the Jews, desired 
to converse with Jesus. He addressed Jesus by the 
respectable title of Rabbi, and his words show that he 
expected important and peculiar instruction. He was 
afraid or ashamed to be seen with Christ, and therefore 



62 €H{JRCH TEACHINGS. 

came in the night. Our Saviour discoursed respecting 
the necessity and nature of regeneratim or the new 
birth. Our Lord at once directed Nicodemus to the 
source of internal purity. Though Nicodemus under- 
stood not the mystery of regeneration, yet Christ asserts 
the necessity of it positively. (Eclectic Commentary, 
pages 213, 214.) 

Since God is an infinite and eternal Spirit, and 
therefore beyond the comprehension of any finite un- 
derstanding, we. should learn the duty of implicitly 
receiving whatever he reveals to us concerning his own 
divine nature, though we may not be able to comprehend 
it. The doctrine of the Trinity should lead us to the 
most humble and holy obedience, and inspire us with 
the highest consolation and triumph ; for it reveals God 
the Father reconciled unto us, through the atonement 
of a divine Redeemer ; and it reveals the divine spirit 
of grace, by whom we are guided, sanctified, and con- 
soled. (Bishop Hobart's Festivals and Fasts, page 224.) 



The End of Part First. 



PART SECOND. 



BIBLE ^ND CHURCH I^ISTORY, 



FROM TRINITY TO ADVENT.' 



Introduction to Part Second 



Having in the first part of this book followed closely 
in the footsteps of our blessed Saviour, from His birth 
to His ascension into heaven, and having noted the de- 
scent of the Holy Ghost upon his Apostles, whereby 
they were qualified and enabled to promulgate and 
establish the Gospel in the world; it will be both in- 
structive and interesting to consider now some of the 
leading events connected with the establishment and 
progress of the Church of Christ, under the Apostles 
and their successors, and to review briefly in connection 
therewith, the lives of some of the holy men, whose 
names are so intimately interwoven with the history of 
the Church. Before entering upon this field, however, 
it is necessary to go back to the creation of man, and 
give a brief outline of the history of the Church from 
the days of Adam to the advent of Christ, in order 
thus to prepare the mind more thoroughly to consider 
" that new and better dispensation which God has made 
to the world." 

To condense so much in so limited a spnce (the twen- 
ty-seven Sundays from Trinity to Advent), embracing 
nearly six thousand years, filled with so many important 
and memorable events ; and at the same time to convey 
any accurate idea of the subject, necessarily requires 
the utmost conciseness. 



66 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 



The First Sunday after Trinity. 

From the Creation op Man to the Death of Adam. 
B. C. 4004 to 3074. 

The Church will now be considered under the three 
dispensations, the Patriarchal, the Mosaic, and the 
Christian. 

The Patriarchal Age, commencing with the creation 
of man, lasted until the delivery of the law upon Mount 
Sinai. 

In those days there were no written laws as we have 
now, but men were governed by the natural notions of 
right and wrong, with which every one is born, and 
which we all begin to exercise as soon as we are able 
to reason. 

God also at that time communicated with men by 
dreams and visions. 

The Patriarchs (of those days) instructed their fami- 
lies in religious duty as revealed to them from God. 

In public worship they used prayers and offered sac- 
rifices. 

Their places of public worship, where they erected 
their altars, were in the groves and mountains. 

It is also certain that they had regular seasons for 
meeting together to worship God. 

In those times the Priesthood, or those by whom 
public worship was administered, consisted of "the 
patriarch, or surviving head of every tribe, who was a 
kind of high-priest over all the families that were de- 
scended from him; and the first-born in every family 
was the ordinary priest, who might officiate in his 
father's stead, and who, after his decease, succeeded in 
his room." 

Adam, after his fall for disobedience to God in eating 
the forbidden fruit, became aware of the anger of God, 
" and saw that it was necessary to propitiate the offended 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 6? 

Deity by prayer and invocation, by sorrow and repent- 
ance, and probably by offering sacrifice." 

Adam reared his children in the fear of God, and 
instructed his family in religious matters. 

Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel. Abel 
was a keeper of sheep. Cain was a tiller of the ground. 
Each of them made an offering unto the Lord. Cain 
offered "the fruit of the ground, " and Abel offered " the 
firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof," and the 
Lord accepted the offering of Abel, but rejected that of 
Cain. Cain therefore, being envious and enraged, slew 
his brother Abel. 

The Lord condemned Cain to perpetual exile, and he 
went and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the East of 
Eden, 

Abel having been slain, God gave his parents another 
son, whom they named Seth. 

Adam died at the age of nine hundred and thirty 
years. (B. C. 3074) 



The Second Sunday after Trinity. 

From the Death of Adam to the Death of Noah. 

B. C. 3074 to 1998. 

Seth. — Seth was a very virtuous and religious man. 
" He was(if we may believe the ancients) a great scholar ; 
the first inventor of letters and writing, an accurate 
astronomer; and taught his children the knowledge of 
the stars. He asserted and propagated religion and the 
true worship of God, as he had received it from his 
father Adam." 

According to ancient tradition Seth and his followers 
withdrew from Cain into a high mountain, (w 7 here 
Adam was buried,) where they led pure and holy lives, 
and daily worshiped God. Seth r just before his death, 
entreated his descendants never to descend from the 
holy mount to communicate or associate with Cain and 



68 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

his wicked peopie. Seth was nine hundred and twelve 
years old when he died. 

The descendants of Seth in the patriarchal line to the 
time of the deluge were, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, 
Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech and Noah. 

These Patriarchs lived to a great age. The youngest 
of them — Enoch, (the father of Methuselah,) was trans- 
lated to heaven by God, at the age of three hundred 
and sixty-live years. Methuselah, the oldest, lived to 
be nine hundred and sixty-nine years old. 

They were all good men, led holy lives, and endeav- 
ored to keep up the purity of the religion which they 
had received from Adam. 

When about to die, all of them gave the same com- 
mandments to their followers; not to* mingle with the 
wicked descendants of Cain. 

During the lifetime of Jared, however, the Sethites 
began to decline, for notwithstanding his earnest efforts 
to prevent it, some of them descended from the holy 
mountain and mixed with the posterity of Cain. 

By Noah's time, the intermingling of the descendants 
of Seth and Cain had produced a race of men noted for 
their wickedness. Josephus describes them as " a race 
of men insolent and ungovernable, despising all justice 
and equity." 

The world having thus become so very wicked, God 
resolved to send a flood upon the earth. The flood oc- 
curred B. C. 2348 ; but Noah and his family found fa- 
vor with God. 

God ordered Noah to build an ark in which he, his 
wife, bis three sons and their wives, and many animals 
of different kinds were saved. Every other living 
creature upon the earth was destroyed. 

Through Noah's three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, 
the vacant world was again replenished with inhab- 
itants. 

Noah was nine hundred and fifty years old when he 
died. (B. C. 1998.) 

He lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 69 

Tlie Third Sunday after Trinity. 

From the Death op Noah to the Death of Jacob. 
B. C. 1998 to 1682. 

Abraham. — Abraham, the son of Terah, was the tenth 
in descent from Shem, in the line of Heber. He was 
born B. C. 1996. 

"He belonged to a wealthy pastural family dwelling 
beyond the Euphrates, in that district in which the town 
of Ur (now Urfah) was situated. This family was not 
free from the general taint of idol worship ; for we are 
told that Terah, the father of Abraham, and probably 
also his sons, served other gods beyond the Euphrates." 

"But God, who had designed him for higher and 
nobler purposes, called him at length out of his father's 
house; directing him to leave his country and his kin- 
dred, and go to aland which should be shown him; 
promising at the same time to make him a great nation, 
to bless him, to make his name great, and that in him 
all the families of the earth should be blessed." 

Abraham obeyed God and entered the land of Canaan, 
after having crossed the great river Euphrates and tra- 
versed the deserts to the West. (B. C. 1921.) 

This country acquired its name in consequence of its 

having become the habitation, soon after the flood, of 

■ the descendants of Canaan, the youngest son of Ham. 

" Abraham had a numerous family and a vast retinue, 
and he was careful to inform them in the knowledge of 
the true God, and to instruct them in all the duties of 
; religion." 

Abraham died when he was one hundred and seventy- 
five years old. (B. C. 1821 ) He was buried in the 
cave of Machpelah in the Held of Ephron, which he had 
; purchased of the sons of Heth. 

Isaac. — " Abraham being dead, Isaac stood up in his 
stead, the son of his parents' old age, and the fruit of an 
extraordinary promise." He was a good man ; and God 
encouraged him to go on in the steps of his father, re- 
newing the same promises to him which he had made 
to Abraham. Abraham selected for Isaac a wife from 
among his own kindred. 



70 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

' He married his cousin Rebekah. 

Isaac died at the age of one hundred and eighty 
years. (B. C. 1716.) 

His remains were buried in the cave of Machpelah, 
where Sarah his mother, his father, and Rebekah his 
wife, had been buried before him. 

His son Jacob succeeded him in the patriarchal line. 

Jacob. — "Jacob entirely devoted himself to the fear 
and service of God, kept up his worship, and viuclicated 
it from the encroachments of idolatry." He married 
his cousin, Rachel, the daughter of Laban, Rebekah' s 
brother. 

" Jacob had frequent visions ; God appearing to him 
and ratifying the covenant that he had made with Abra- 
ham. In his latter days he removed his family into 
Egypt, where God had prepared his way by the prefer- 
ment of his son Joseph to be Viceroy and Lord of that 
vast and fertile country. He had twelve sons, who 
afterwards became founders of the twelve tribes of the 
Jewish nation. The tribe of Judah was the most pow- 
erful of the twelve, and had the first lot in the division 
of the promised land." 

Moreover, it was foretold to Judah, that from his 
tribe the Messiah should arise ; and so it came to pass. 

Jacob was, at the time of his death, one hundred and 
forty-seven years of age. (B. C. 1682.) 

" According to his dying request, his remains were 
carried up, attended by the chief officers and nobility 
of Egypt, to Canaan, and buried in the family vault at 
Machpelah." 

Jacob died seventeen years after his removal to 
Egypt. 



The Fourth Sunday after Trinity. 

From the Death of Jacob to the Delivery of the 

Law on Mount Sinai. B. C. 1082 to 1491. 

Joseph and his brethren, after the death of their 
father Jacob, continued to live in Egypt. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. ft 

• 

Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years, ' 
(B. C. 1635,) eighty years after he was made ruler of 
Egypt, leaving two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. 

He predicted that the children of Israel would be 
finally led of God into the land promised to Abraham, 
Isaac and Jacob; and directed them when they went to. 
carry his bones with them. 

After the death of Joseph and his brethren, there 
finally arose a new king, who knew not Joseph, and he 
made slaves of the Israelites, and placed task masters 
over them, who treated them with great cruelty. He 
gave an order that every male child that was born to - 
the Israelites, should be thrown into the river Nile. 

Among other children born at that time was Moses ;,. 
(B. C. 1571,) and his mother being desirous to save him, 
made a small ark of reeds and placed it in the flags 
upon the brink of the river Nile, trusting that God 
would save him ; and his Sister Miriam watched to see 
what would become of him. 

Pharaoh's daughter, who came to bathe in the river 
at that time, saw the ark, and had it brought ashore. 
She recognized the child as one of the Hebrew children,, 
and determined to save it. Miriam then came forward 
and offered to bring a nurse from among the Hebrew 
women ; and the child went and called her mother, who 
was employed as its nurse. He was adopted by Phara- 
oh's daughter, was reared and educated by this princess, . 
and became "learned in all the wisdom of the Egyp- 
tians." God chose Moses to command the Israelites and . 
conduct them out of Egypt. 

Directed of God, he demanded of Pharaoh the liberty 
of his people; which was refused, until at length kfter 
being afflicted with many plagues, he consented to let 
them go. Thus, after having served the Egyptians for:' 
at least two hundred years, they were delivered. (B„. 
C. 1491.) 

Pharaoh afterwards regretting that he had let them 
go, pursued them, when God made a way for the Israel- 
ites through the Red Sea, and carried them over in. 
safety. But Pharaoh, in attempting to follow, was, with 
his great army, destroyed. 



.72 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR , 

After this, the Israelites journeyed southward until 
they came to Mount Sinai in Arabia, called also Mount 
Horeb. They were led by a pillar of cloud by day and 
of fire by night. When it stood still they rested, and 
when it moved they followed. 

The provisions which they brought from Egypt soon 
gave out, and they murmured against Moses. God 
having rebuked them, sent during the evening quails, 
which covered the camp ; and these were taken and 
prepared for food. In the morning the ground was 
found to be covered with something which looked like 
hoar-frost, and which tasted like sweetened bread. 
They called it Manna, and they were supplied daily 
with this food (except on the seventh day) for the iorty 
years that they were in the wilderness. 

While the Israelites were encamped in the valleys 
below Mount Sinai, Moses was called up by the Lord 
into the mountain, where he held intercourse with 
him. 

On the fiftieth day after the departure of the Israel- 
ites from Egypt, the Lord descended upon the top of 
Mount Sinai, and amidst thunders and lightnings, fire 
and smoke, He gave the ten Commandments to the awe 
struck multitude at the foot of the mountain. 

" But Moses and his brother Aaron ascended, although 
only the former dared to enter the cloud which veiled 
the presence of God." 

The family of Aaron was selected for the higher ser- 
vices of the Priesthood; Aaron himself being high- 
priest (B C. 1490.) 

In the second year after their departure from Egypt, 
the Israelites left Sinai, and journeyed toward the fron- 
tiers of Canaan. (B. C. 1490.) 



The Fifth Sunday after Trinity. 

From the Delivery of the Law on Mount Sinai 

to the Accession of Saul. B. C. 1491 to 1095. 

The state of things under the Mosaic dispensation 
will now be considered. This period of the Church's 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 73 

history began with the delivery of the Law on Mount 
Sinai and continued until the coming of Christ. 

u The Church, which had hitherto lain dispersed in 
private families,. being now multiplied into a great and 
populous nation, God was pleased to enter into cove- 
nant with the body of the people, and to govern the 
Church by more certain and regular ways than it had 
hitherto been." 

God, after having caused the Israelites (in consequence 
| of their disobedience and rebellion) to wander for forty 
years in the wilderness between Mount Sinai and Pal- 
estine, finally, under the leadership of Joshua, conducted 
them into the land of promise, (B. C. 1431,) where he 
framed and ordered their commonwealth, appointed 
laws for the government of the church, and settled 
them under a more fixed and certain dispensation. 

Both Moses and Aaron died before the Israelites 
entered Canaan. 

Aaron died upon Mount Hor, (B. C. 1453,) and was 
buried upon that mountain. " And his tomb is still 
seen by those who travel in that solitary region." " He 
was succeeded in the pontificate by his eldest son, 
Eleazer." (Numbers xx.) 

Moses, after renewing with the people "in the name 
of Jelwvah, the covenant which had been made in Sinai, 
and having delivered the Book of the Law to the care 
of the Levites, took leave of all the tribes and ascended 
to the top of Mount Pisgah." From thence he viewed 
the promised land, to the borders of which he had led 
the people There he died at the age of one hundred 
and twenty years, (B. C. 1451,) " and no man knoweth 
of his sepulchre." 

After the Israelites had passed the river Jordan and 
entered Canaan, the first object of attack was the city 
of Jericho, which stood in the plain about two miles 
from the Jordan, and twenty miles from Jerusalem. 
Jericho was taken and destroyed. Soon after this, 
Joshua defeated the five Amorite kings at Gibeon, (B. 
C. 1451.) It was upon this occasion that, at the word 
of Joshua, God caused the sun and moon to stand still, 
when under the cover of darkness many of the enemy 



74 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

would otherwise have escaped. " At the end of five 
years, Joshua had reduced the greater part of the coun- 
try from the mountains of Seir to Lebanon." At this 
time (B. C. 1445) the lands were divided among the 
different tribes, and the tabernacle was removed from 
Gilp:al on the Jordan to Shiloh, nearer the centre of the 
land, where it remained over four hundred and fifty 
years, until the time of Samuel. " The five or six fol- 
lowing years were consumed in a desultory warfare 
with the unconquered states." (B. C. 1440.) 

During the fourteen years which followed, the Israel- 
ites seem to have discontinued the war against the 
Canaanites. Having as much land as they wanted for 
the present, they devoted themselves to agriculture 
and the pursuits of settled life. At the end of this time 
(B. C. 1426) Joshua died at the age of one hundred and 
ten years. Joshua was an illustrious warrior and an 
eminently pious and virtuous man. 

" We now enter upon the time of the Judges, a period 
of three hundred and thirty-one years, (1426 to 1095 
B. C.) during which we shall find the Hebrew nation 
afflicted or prosperous in proportion to their neglect or 
observance of the conditions of their covenant with 
their Divine King." 

" When they worshiped idols, God punished them by 
causing their enemies to triumph over them ; and when 
they repented and turned to God, he sent them deliver- 
ers called Judges, under whom they continued pros- 
perous until they sinned again, when they were again 
punished." The last of these Judges was Samuel. His 
mother Hannah (the wife of Elkanah, a Levite,) prayed 
to the Lord to give her a son, promising to dedicate 
him to the Lord all the days of his life. 

The petition was granted, and she called his name 
Samuel. (B. C. 1149). When he had reached the proper 
age she took him to the tabernacle at Shiloh, and placed 
him in charge of Eli, the Judge of Israel, who became 
much attached to him and employed him in various 
services about the tabernacle. 

When Samuel was only twelve years old he was 
called by night in a remarkable way to be a prophet. 
(B. C. 1137.) See 1 Samuel iii : 1-17. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 75 

Ten years after this the Israelites, without the con- 
sent of their Divine King, entered into a war with the 
Philistines, in which they were defeated, and remained 
in subjection to the Philistines for twenty years. Eli, 
who was now very old, upon hearing of the defeat of 
the Israelites, fell from his seat and his neck broke, and 
he died. (B. C. 1127.) \- 

After twenty years subjection to the yoke of bondage, 
they finally, through, the pleadings of Samuel, returned 
to their allegiance to their Divine King. Samuel was 
made judge over Israel. (B. C. 1107.) The Philistines 
were defeated and' " were obliged to restore the places 
taken from Israel, and were not in a condition to give 
any further disturbance during Samuel's administra- 
tion. The prophet-j udge administered the government 
with great ability and care." At length, when Samuel 
was " old and gray-headed," the elders of Israel de- 
manded " such a change in the government as would 
give them a human king 4 to rule them like the na- 
tions.'" At first Samuel strongly opposed this wish, 
but at length, being authorized by the Lord, he granted 
their desire. 

Saul, the son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, was, 
by Divine appointment, the first king of Israel. (B C. 
1095.) 



The Sixth. Sunday after Trinity. 

From the Accession to the Death of Saul. 
B. C. 1095 to 1055. 



Saul. — Soon after Saul was made king, he defeated 
the Ammonites, (B. 0. 1095), which exploit raised him 
very high in the estimation of the people. Afterwards 
he made war on the Philistines, and aided by his eldest 
son, Jonathan, he gained a complete victory over them 
at Michmash. (B. C. 1091.) " Several years following 
were distinguished by successful warfare with the ene- 
mies of Israel." " At length Saul received orders, 



16 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

through Samuel, to execute the Lord's fierce wrath 
upon the Amalekites, who had formerly been doomed 
to utter extermination for pposing the Israelites when 
they came out of Egypt." 

Saul utterly defeated the enemy, but instead of carry- 
ing out God's commands, he reserved the best of the 
cattle as booty, and brought back the Amalekite king 
a prisoner. For this offence the Divine decree was 
pronounced by Samuel, which excluded his descendants 
from the throne. 

" About the twenty-fifth year of Saul's reign, Samuel 
received the divine mandate to take measures for 
anointing the person whom the Lord had chosen to 
displace the race of Saul in the throne of Israel." He 
was directed to proceed to Bethlehem and anoint David, 
one of the sons of Jesse. David was then about fifteen 
years of age. Samuel, after anointing him, returned 
home, and David continued to tend his father's flock, 
without even knowing that he was destined to be the 
future King of Israel. 

David, while still a boy, slew the giant Goliath with 
a sling and stone, which resulted in the disastrous defeat 
of the Philistines by Saul. After awhile David became 
so popular by his bravery in the field, that Saul became 
very jealous, and tried in many ways to destroy him, 
and even attempted to induce his son, Jonathan, to aid 
him in this scheme. But between David and Jonathan 
there had sprung up a very tender friendship, although 
Jonathan knew that David was destined to exclude 
him from the throne. So far from aiding his father, 
Jonathan always gave his friend timely notice of dan- 
ger. Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in mar- 
riage, " that she may be a snare to him, and that the 
hand of the Philistines may be against him." (1 Samuel 
xviii : 21.) But all of his schemes for the ruin of David 
failed. 

u And Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with 
David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him. 
And Saul was yet the more afraid of David, and Saul 
became Dayid's enemy continually." (1 Samuel xvii : 
28-29.) 

V 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 77 

Repeated attempts having been made upon David's 
life, he determined, after a private interview and tender 
parting with Jonathan, to withdraw himself effectually 
from the designs upon his life, by retiring to a foreign 
land. Some four hundred men of broken fortunes 
joined him. David, for the next five years (B. C. 1059 
to 1054), wandered through many countries, and used 
his troops as best he could, for the benefit of his coun- 
try, Saul constantly pursuing and persecuting him. 
Twice David had Saul within his power, but spared his 
life. (1 Samuel xxiv: and xxvi.) During this time 
Jonathan encouraged David to trust in God- 
Samuel died (B. C. 1057) in the ninety-second year of 
his age, " and he whs much and deservedly lamented by 
the people." Finally (B. C. 1055) the Philistines gained 
a great victory over the Israelites at Mount Gilboa : 
Jonathan and two other of Saul's sons were killed, and 
Saul fell upon his own sword and died. 

Upon this news reaching David he was much grieved, 
and " poured forth his grief for Israel, for Saul, and for 
Jonathan, his friend, in one of the most beautiful elegiac 
odes to be found in any language." 
Saul reigned forty years. 



The Seventh Sunday after Trinity. 

From the Death of Saul to the Death op Solomon. 

B. C. 1055 to 975. 

c ' Saul being dead, David inquired of God what course 
he should take, and was directed to repair to Hebron, 
the principal town of the tribe of Judah. At that place 
the men of Judah publicly anointed him as their king." 
(B. C. 1055.) Seven and a half years alter this, he was 
proclaimed king overall Israel. (B. C. 1047.) His first 
act was to take the fortress on Mount Zion at Jerusa- 
lem, which was occupied by the Jebusites, and consid- 
ered impregnable. Joab commanded his army on this 
occasion, and was, in consequence of this victory, made 



78 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

captain-general of the forces of all Israel. (B. C. 1046.) 
" David then made Jerusalem the metropolis of his 
kingdom and fixed his residence upon Mount Zion." 

This success made David very conspicuous, and at- 
tracted the attention of foreigners. He also so com- 
pletely defeated the Philistines in two engagements, 
that they never again gave any serious trouble to Israel. 
When God had given him rest from all his enemies, he 
determined to build a temple (B. C. 1040), but God 
instructed him, through the Prophet Nathan, to leave 
that work to his son Solomon. " But God approved of 
the feelings which actuated David in this design, and 
promised that the sceptre should not depart from his 
family. To this was added an intimation which rilled 
him with joy, that the long promised Messiah should 
be numbered among his descendants." (2 Sam. vii: 16 ) 

David died at the age of seventy years. (B. C. 1015.) 
He had reigned forty years; seven as king of Judah, 
and thirty-three as king of all Israel. "Arnid the 
lamentations of ail his people, the remains of David 
were deposited in a splendid tomb, which he had pre- 
pared for himself on Mount Zion." 

Solomon was born B. C. 1033, and he commenced to 
reign when he was about twenty years old. " His 
natural talents were of the highest order, and had been 
improved by careful education." Through the con- 
quests of his father, Solomon inherited an extensive 
'dominion. "It reached from the Mediterranean to the 
Euphrates, and from the Red Sea and Arabia to the 
utmost Lebanon." He had immense treasures, won by 
his lather. 

Solomon married a daughter of the King of Egypt. 
Three years having been spent in preparations for 
building the temple, the foundation was laid in the 
fourth year (B. (J. 1012), aud the edifice fiaished in 
seven years. (B.C. 1005.) "The remainder of King 
So'omon's reign is a history rather of peaceful under- 
takings than of warlike exploits." He built many 
splendid palaces and engaged extensively in commer- 
cial enterprises both by land and sea ; Hiram, king of 
Tyre, uniting with him in trading in the Eastern seas. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 79 

The wisdom of Solomon and his immense "wealth at- 
tracted many foreign princes to Jerusalem; the most 
celebrated visitor was the Queen of Sheba. 

In his latter days Solomon was led astray and gave 
himself up to the worship of idols. As a punishment 
for this wickedness, it was announced to him that his 
kingdom should be taken from him, but that, "for 
David's sake, this should not be done in his time, but 
in the time of his son, and that also, for the sake of 
David, one tribe, that of Judah (with which Benjamin 
had now coalesced), should remain under the dominion 
of his house." 

"There is reason to hope that his last days were 
penitential." 

Solomon died (B. C. 975) aged sixty years, having 
reigned forty years. 



The Eighth Sunday after Trinity. 

From the Death op Solomon to the Birth of 

Christ. B. C. 975 to A. D. 1. 

Solomon had many sons, "but the only one known 
to history is his successor, Rehoboam." Under his 
reign "(in accordance with the purpose of God to punish 
the house of David for the guilt of Solomon) happened 
the fatal division of the kingdom, when ten parts of 
twelve were rent off at once and brought under the 
rule of Jeroboam." 

Jeroboam made the seat of his government at 
Shechem, and this new kingdom, by way of distinction, 
was known as the kingdom of Israel ; while the tribes of 
Judah aud Benjamin, under "Rehoboam, were known 
as the kingdom of Judah. They retained the ancient 
metropolis, Jerusalem, as their seat of government. 

Both kingdoms still professed allegiance to God, and 
both prospered or suffered in proportion as they obeyed 
or disobeyed His commands. But, very soon, Israel, 
under the reign of Jeroboam, commenced the worship 



80 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

of idols, " and from that time religion began visibly to 
decline in that kingdom, and idolatry to gain ground 
amongst them." 

" With the rapid growth of idolatry and the neglect 
of that religious system which was the true glory of 
the nation, the people lost all love for the good and the 
true, and gave themselves up to the grossest abomina- 
tions that the heart of man can conceive." 

Fiually, their country was invaded by th Assyrians 
and their kingdom extinguished. 

" Thus perished the kingdom of Israel, which was an- 
nexed to the Assyrian Crown under an Assyrian gov- 
ernor, after it had endured as a separate state, two 
hundred and seventy-one years, under seventeen kings." 

The King of Assyria carried away as captives, all 
of those distinguished for their rank, wealth, learning, 
or for their knowledge of arms and the useful arts, and 
settled them in the region beyond the Euphrates, leav- 
ing only the poorer people in the land of Israel. He 
supplied the place of those taken away by captives from 
the lower Tigris and Euphrates. " The new comers 
gradually combined with the Israelites who remained 
in the country, and the population thus formed took 
the name of Samaritans, from the city of Samaria." 
At first they combined the worship of the true God 
with that of their idols, but gradually their belief assim- 
ilated itself to that of the Jews. 

The kingdom of Judah remained "loyal both to God 
and their prince, firmly adhering to the worship of the 
temple, though even here too impiety in some places 
maintained its ground, having taken root in the reign 
of Solomon, who gave countenance to idolatry." 

" The extirpation hereof was the design and attempt 
of all the pious and good princes of Judah. Jehosophat 
(B. C. 914) was most earnest in his efforts to recover 
religion and the state of the Church to its ancient purity 
and lustre." 

But under the reign of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah 
(B. C. 698), " impiety, like a land-flood, broke in upon 
religion and laid all waste before it." His grand-child, 
Josiah (who was a very pious man), made some amensd, 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 81 

and but for his early death would have accomplished 
much more good. Under the reign of his son, Jehoia- 
kim, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, took Jeru- 
salem and carried away a portion of the sacred vessels 
ot the temple. Many of the nobility were also taken 
away as hostages, among them the prophet Daniel. (B. 
C. 605.) u Not many years after (B. C. 588), God being 
highly provoked by the prodigious impieties of that 
nation, delivered it up to the army of the King of 
Babylon." King Nebuchadnezzar burned the city and 
the temple to the ground, and carried the people captive 
to Babylon. " Thus was the land left desolate, and thus 
ended the kingdom of Judah." (B. C. 588.) 

Cyrus, the Persian, having taken Babylon (B. C. 535), 
permitted the Jews to return to their own country. 

After seventy years of captivity and punishment (B. 
C. 605, when the first captives were taken to Babylon 
until B. C. 535) in accordance with the prophecies of 
Isaiab, the Jews returned to Palestine. 

Zerubbabel, who was of the house of David, was the 
leader of the first colony of Jews who returned to Jeru- 
salem. To him Cyrus entrusted the sacred vessels 
which had been taken from the temple at Jerusalem ; 
and under him the temple was rebuilt. The temple 
was finished B. C. 516. 

The Jews remained under the government of the 
Persians until B. C. 331, when Alexander the Great, 
having conquered the Persians, the Jewish people be- 
came subject to his government. They remained under 
the government of the Greek monarchs of Egypt and 
Syria until B. C. 63, when Judea was subjected to the 
Romans by a lar^e army under the command of the 
great Pompey. Herod the Great was appointed king 
of Judea by the Roman Senate. (B. C. 37). The temple 
built by Zerubbabel had been standing nearly five hun- 
dred years, and was much decayed. Herod the Great 
undertook to rebuild it. He began the work seventeen 
years before Christ, and completed the main building 
in less than ten years, so that it was fit for the service. 
The whole work occupied forty-six years. It was de- 
stroyed by the Romans A. D. 71. This temple is that 



82 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

which Christ and His Apostles so often visited. " It 
seems to have been in many respects a much more 
magnificent pile than the great temple built by Sol- 
omon." It is minutely described by Josephus. 

We now come to the birth of Jesus Christ, which 
occurred in the thirty-seventh year of the reign of Herod 
the Great. Herod, after causing all the children in 
Bethlehem under two years of age to be put to death, 
trusting that Christ would fall in the general slaughter, 
died himself in the same year of a most painful and 
loathsome disease. 



The Ninth. Sunday after Trinity. 

Prophecies Concerning the Coming of Jesus 
Christ. 

God having from the beginning of the world prom- 
ised the Messiah, we will now consider some of the 
revelations and prophecies respecting his coming. God 
at the time of the fall of Adam promised to seucl a 
person who should be born of "the seed of the 
woman," and rescue mankind from death. (Geu. iii : 15.) 
Again, it was revealed to Abraham, that he should arise 
out of the Jewish nation, and that in Him all the fam- 
ilies of the earth should be blessed. (Gen. xii : 3.) 

" To Jacob God made koown out of what tribe of 
that nation He should rise; (the tribe of Judah)," and 
when He should appear, viz : at " the departure of the 
sceptre from Judah." (Gen. xlix: 8 to 10.) 

Moses foretells that he shall be the great Prophet of; 
the Church. (Deut. xviii: 15-19.) 

From David we learn that he would spring from his 
house and family. (3. Sainl. vii : 16 ) 

From the prophet Isaiah we have an account of the 
manner of his birth ; that he should be born of a vir- 
gin, and his name be Immanuel. (Isaiah vii : 14. ) 

Micah fortells the place of his birth. (Micah v : 2.) 

Daniel fixes the particular period of his coming ; 
which was exactly fulfilled. (Daniel ix : 24-26.) 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 83 

" The date of the prophetic Scriptures concerning the 
time of the Messiah's coming being now ran out, in the 
fulness of time Gjd sent his Son, made of a woman, 
made under the Law, to redeem them that were under 
the Law; this being the truth of which God spake by 
the mouth of all his holy prophets which have been 
since the world began." 

There are mauy more prophecies in addition to those 
referred to, which we have omitted for want of room. 



The Tenth Sunday afcar Trinity. 

The Church op Christ—Its Dlvike Origin — The 

Form op its Ministry — Episc >p^cv Dspine d. 

"AH authority in the Church is originally derived 
from God the Father, by whom Jesus Christ was sent 
into the world. Jesus Christ, the Son, is now the 
source of all authority in the Church; and the person 
by whom ecclesiastical power is immediately conferred, 

i is the Holy Spirit. That there were officers in the 
Christian Church does not admit of doubt. Oar blessed 

■ Lord, the head and founder of it when on earth, chose 

1 twelve whom he named apostles ; besides these he ap- 
pointed other seventy. After his resurrection he in- 

i vested his apostles with the same authority which he 

| had received from the Father ; As my Father has sent 
me, even so send I you. (John xx : 21%) As he had re- 
ceived authority to send them, so he gave them author- 

jj ity to send others. That the officers of the Church 
must receive their commission from God is manifest 
from Hebrews v : 4." 
EfAscopacy. — " Episcopacy is the divine constitution 

\ of the ministry, in the orders of Bishops, Priests, and 
Deacons, with their appropriate powers; the order of 
Bishops possessing exclusively the power of ordination, 
of superintendence, and of supremacy in government. 
" The Bishops were successors to the Apostles in the 
divine authority of commissioning others for the min- 



84 CHURCH TEACHINGS POR 

istry and governing the Church ; therefore it is only 
through a succession of Bishops, as distinct from and 
superior to Priests and Deacons, that authority to exer- 
cise the ministry can be derived from the Divine Head 
of the Church/ 1 

i Our Church, the Protestant Episcopal Church in 
America, is through a succession of Bishops, descended 
in a direct line from the Apostles, through the British 
Church. 



The Eleventh Sunday after Trinity. 

The Early Progress of Christianity — From the 
times of the apostles to the accession of the 
Roman Emperor Constantine the Great. (A. D. 
30-320. — The Persecution of the Church dur- 
ing that Period. 

" The number of disciples assembled in the upper 
room at Jerusalem after our Lord's ascension was only 
a hundred and twenty; but the miracle of the day of 
Pentecost and the sermon of St. Peter added three 
thousand souls, and erelong the number of the men 
were live thousand." (Rom. x : 18.) 

The next account is that, " the word of God in- 
creased; and the number of disciples multiplied in 
Jerusalem greatly ; and a great company of the priests 
were obedient to the faith." In obedience to the com- 
mand of our blessed Saviour (" Go ye, therefore, and 
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the 
Father, aud of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,") we 
find the apostles not long after his ascension " travers- 
ing almost all parts of the known world : and all this 
done in the space of less than forty years, viz : before 
the destruction of the Jewish State by Titus and the 
Roman army." 

In this short space of time did the Christian religion 
diffuse itself throughout the then known world ; many 
nations were converted, men forsook their idols and 
their sacrifices, and Christian altars were set up every- 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 85 

where, "among the Romans, Persians, Scythians, 
Moors and Indians, and probably in the British Islands, 
which though unconquerable by the power of the Ro- 
man armies, submitted their necks to the yoke of 
Christ.^ This most wonderful spread of Christianity, 
(as Terfullian observes) " was a mighty evidence of 
Christ's divinity, and that He was the true Messiah." 
This great growth of the true religion continued, not- 
withstanding the cruel persecutions inflicted upon 
Christians by the Roman Emperors for three centuries. 
To the tyrant Nero " belongs the evil pre-eminence of 
being the first great persecutor of the Church." (A. D. 
64-68.) Upon the pretense that the Christians had set 
fire to Rome, he caused a vast multitude of them to be 
subjected to most cruel tortures aod even to death. 

" Some were covered with the skins of wild beasts, 
that they might be torn to pieces by dogs ; some were 
crucified, while others having been daubed over with 
combustible materials were set up as lights in the night 
time, and thus burned to death." And all this was 
suffered rather than deny Christ ; for they were told 
that their lives would be spared if they would renounce 
the Christian religion. The persecution of the Chris- 
tians was continued under the different emperors until 
the accession of the emperor Constantine the Great, 
(A. D. 320) who relieved the Church from persecution 
and defended its faith. Constantine was the first Chris- 
tian emperor of Rome, and was born in England. 



The Twelfth Sunday after Trinity. 

The British Church from the first Century to 
the Reformation, (A. D. 1517.)— The usurpation 
of the Roman Pontiffs — Corruptions and Inno- 
vations introduced by them, which finally led 
to the Reformation. 

It is generally admitted that Christianity was estab- 
lished in Great Britain before the close of the first cen. 



86 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

tury of our Era. Some authors have stated that British 
Bishops sat in early councils in Gaul (now France), and 
that there were at least three in the great Council of 
Nice (A. D. 325). This Council was assembled to de- 
termine the true doctrine of the Holy Trinity, by order 
of Constantine. But little is known of the condition 
of the British Church previous to the Saxon invasion 
in the fifth century. The persecutions of Christianity 
by the Roman Emperors extended into Great Britain, 
and there were many martyrs and confessors of our 
Holy religion in that remote Island. About the close 
of the sixth century, it is said that Gregory, the Bishop 
of Rome, when passing through the slave market in 
that city was greatly struck with the beauty and fair- 
ness of certain boys who were exposed for sale. On 
enquiring of what country they were, he was informed 
that they were Angli; English, Saxon English. Learn- 
ing that they were Pagans, he determined to send mis- 
sionaries to England to convert them to the Christian 
faith. Accordingly in the year 595 Augustine, with 
forty associates, was sent to preach Christianity to these 
Saxons, who were in possession of a great part of the 
country, having driven the native Britons into Wales 
and other retired places. Augustine's mission was very 
successful, and before many years a large part of the 
Saxon English had embraced Chistianity, and Augus- 
tine became the first Archbishop of Canterbury. Au- 
gustine soon brought the old British Christians into 
subjection to the rule of the Roman Church. The 
Roman control lasted until after the beginning of the 
sixteenth century. 

The great evil of those ages was the ambition and 
cupidity of the Roman Pontiffs. u It had become a 
settled notion that the Bishops of Rome were the suc- 
cessors of St. Peter in the primacy of the Church by 
Divine appointment, and that it was the duty of every 
Church and every Christian to be in communion with, 
and to be subject to the Pope ; and therefore that those 
who were out of his communion, or disobedient to him, 
were not Christians. This was in fact to invest the 
Roman Pontiff with absolute power in temporal as well 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL, 87 

as spiritual matters. The history of Europe from this 
period, for two or three centuries, is little more than a 
history of the popes, and of their contests with emper- 
ors and kings. No part of the Church smarted more 
severely under the papal tyranny (for such it became) 
than the Church of England. The enormous power 
usurped by the popes, and the abuses in its exercise, at 
length paved the way for its own subversion, and for 
the Reformation." 

Before entering upon the period of the Reformation, 
let us enumerate some of the errors and corruptions 
introduced in those ages, and which led to this most 
important event. The invocation of Saints, the uso 
of images in divine worship, the adoption of the LtLtin 
language in the Church services, the as sumption of 
the temporal power by the popes, the practice of private 
confession to a priest, the doctrine of purgatory , the 
doctrine of transubstantiation or the material presence 
of the body and biood of Christ in the bread and wine 
used in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, and many 
other errors and superstitions which we have not the 
space to mention here ; but " these will sufficiently 
show the great necessity for reformation in the Church.'' 



The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity. 

The Progress and Completion op the Reforma- 
tion in Great Britain, and the permanent es- 
tablishment op the Protestant religion in 
that Kingdom and her Colonies. 
Sometime before the Reformation there had arisen 
godly men in England protesting against the power of 
the Bishop of Rome and the corruptions of the Church ; 
the most noted of whom was John Wicliffe, a learned 
Oxford professor, who translated the whole Bible into 
English, and who died in the year A. D. 1384. 



88 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

About the beginning of the sixteenth century the 
'corruptions of the Roman Church had become so 
monstrous that Luther, Zwingle,and many other pious 
and learned clergymen in Germany and other parts of 
Europe began to preach and write against them with 
great power and earnestness. This led' to the great 
Reformation of the Church, to which is assigned the 
date of A. D. 1517. Henry the VIII. of Eugland at 
first was a great enemy of this reform; but at last, for 
reasons of his own, became its friend, and in the year 
1534 he threw off allegiance to the Bishop of Rome, 
and declared that he had no supremacy in Christ's 
Church, and no authority either civil or religious in the 
kingdom of England. King Henry was sustained by 
the English nation ; and though he was riot himself a 
very zealous reformer, yet his acts and influence were 
in its favor. King Henry was succeeded by his son 
Edward the 'VI. (A. D. 1547,) a pious and scholarly 
child. 

The learned and zealous Bishops and Statesmen of 
his reign nearly completed the Reformation of the 
Church, and prepared the Prayer Book in English, 
almost exactly as we have it at this day. Before this 
the Church services were in Latin, a language which 
the people did not understand. Edward died about the 
age of sixteen, (A. D. 1553,) and was succeeded by his 
sister, Queen Mary, a zealous member of the Roman 
Church, known as " bloody Mary" from her terrible 
persecution of her Protestant subjects. Under her the 
religious reform was checked, and the Roman worship 
was restored. At her death, (A. D. 1558,} Queen Eliza- 
beth, (one of the greatest English sovereigns,) suc- 
ceeded, and the Reformation of the Church was com- 
pleted during her long and prosperous reign. Thus the 
Protestant religion was established, and has ever since 
continued to be the religion of England and her col- 
onies. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 89 



The Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity. 

The Introduction op the Protestant Episcopal 
Religion into America by the English, A. D. 
1607 — The independence op the Protestant 
Episcopal Churh op the United States, and the 
Consecration op the First American Bishops. , 

When the first settlement by Englishmen was made in 
America, at Jamestown, in Virginia, in A. D. 1607, the 
adventurers were accompanied by a clergyman of the 
Established Church, and as new settlements were made 
in other colonies more clergymen came over; so that 
by the time of the Kevolution (of A. D. 1776) the num- 
ber in the colonies was very considerable, especially in 
Virginia and Maryland. The Bishop of London was 
their Diocesan, inasmuch as by the law of England all 
clergymen of the Church in America and the West Indies 
and other colonies were under his jurisdiction. There 
was no Bishop of our Church in this country previous 
to the close of the American Revolution in A. D. 1783. 
When the United States became independent of Great 
Britain, of course the Church became independent too, 
and Churchmen soon took measures to have Bishops of 
their own. The Book of Common Prayer was adapted 
to the altered condition of matters and government in 
the United States, and finally adopted in A. D. 1790. 
Bishop Seabury, of Connecticut, was consecrated by 
Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church in the vear 
1784. Bishop White, of Pennsylvania, and Bishop Pro- 
vost, of New York, were consecrated by the two English 
Archbishops and three Bishops in 1787. Afterwards in 
1790 Bishop Madison, of Virginia, was also consecrated 
in England. Thus the Episcopate and full Church or- 
ganization in every respect was secured for the United 
States of America, 



90 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity. 

Introduction to the Lives op the Apostles and 
other Saints. 

The first part of this book fully explains the principal 
festivals and fasts of the Church, as Christmas, Easter, 
Whit-Sunday, <&c.-, which are festivals appointed in 
rememberance of special mercies of God, while the 
fasts, as Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, &c, are days 
set apart for abstinence, humiliation and repentance. 
But there are other festivals appointed by the Church 
which have not yet been considered, and which were 
set apart "in memory of the blessed apostles and other 
saints, who were the happy instruments 6"f conveying 
to us the knowledge of Christ Jesus.'' 

In reviewing the leading events in the lives of these 
holy men, and the progress of the Church under their 
ministry, we will consider them in the same order in 
which they occur in the '* Book of Common Prayer," 
giving the date upon which each Saint's day occurs. 

St. Andrew. 

The festival of St. Andrew is celebrated on the 30th 
of November. 

" St Andrew was the first who found the Messiah, 
(Johni: 38-40,) and the first, who brought others to 
him; the Church therefore places his festival at the 
beginning of Advent as the most proper to bring the 
news of our Saviour's coming." 

" St. Andrew was born at Bethsaida, a city of Galilee, 
on the banks of the lake of Gennesareth. He was a 
son of Jonas, a fisherman of that town, and was brother 
to Simon Peter." He is generally supposed to have 
been the younger brother of Peter. 
> He was brought up to his father's trade, till Christ 
called him to follow him ; for which he was fitted even 
before the coming of Christ, by instruction which he 
had received from John the Baptist He was with 
John the Baptist about Jordan when our Saviour came 
\ that way. 



.THESUNDAY SCHOOL. 91 

The Baptist told him' this was the Messiah. " Upon 
this testimony Andrew and another disciple (probably 
St. John) followed . onr Saviour to the place of his 
abode." 

Andrew goes and tells his brother Simon, and they 
then both go together to Christ. They were not then 
called however, but returned to their occupation. Lit- 
tle more than a j^ear afterwards, Christ finds them fish- 
ing upon the sea of Tiberias, and commands them to 
follow Him as His disciples, which they immediately 
do. 

After our Lord's ascension into heaven, and the apos- 
tles had been fitted for their great work by the descent 
of the Holy Ghost, the apostles agreed among them- 
selves what parts of the world they should severally 
take. In the division St. Andrew had allotted him 
Scythia and the neighboring countries. After he had 
by his indefatigable labours converted many to the 
faith, he came to Patrae in Achaia, where, having en- 
raged the proconsul of Achaia by preaching the Gospel, 
he commanded him to be whipped, and then crucified 
him; and that the torture might be greater he fastened 
him to the cross with cords that he might die a more 
lingering death. This cross was in the form of the let- 
ter X, and is hence known as St. Andrew's cross. " He 
hung upon the cross two days teaching and instructing 
the people all the time.'" 

3 He expired on the last of November, but it is not cer- 
tain in what year. Of all our Lord's apostles, St. An- 
drew had the honor to be the first preacher of the 
Gospel, as he proclaimed to his brother Peter that he 
had found the Messiah and conducted him to Him also. 
■ The readiness with which St. Andrew forsook all and 
'followed our Lord, the zeal with which he preached 
His Gospel, and his cheerfulness in giving up his life 
for his Master 3 are subjects well worth our most earnest 
reflection. 



92 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

The Sixteenth. Sunday after Trinity. 
St. Thomas. 

The festival of St. Thomas occurs on December 21st. 
Very little is known of the country or kindred of St. 
Thomas. He was certainly a Jew, probably a Galilean, 
and brought up a fisherman. 

44 The province allotted to St. Thomas was Parthia ; 
he published the glad tidings of salvation to the Medes, 
Persians, &c, and at last came to the Indies, in which 
country he suffered* martyrdom." While at prayer he 
was attacked with stones and darts, and killed. His 
disciples buried him in a Church which he had lately 
built in that country. "From the first plantations of 
Christians in the Eastern India by our apostle, there is 
said to have been a continued series and succession of 
Christians (hence called St. Thomas' Christians) in those 
parts unto this clay." 

Although St. Thomas at first doubted the resurrection 
of Christ, he finally believed; and from " the gentleness 
w T ith which our Saviour treated his dullness of under- 
standing, we may learn that, provided our minds sin- 
cerely intend God's service, He will either pardon our 
errors or deliver us from them," 

44 This unbelief of St. Thomas serves to confirm our 
faith in our Saviour's resurrection by proving beyond 
all doubt or scruple that the very same body of our 
Lord was raised in which he suffered." 

St. Stephen, The First Martyr. 

The festival of St. Stephen occurs on the 26th day of 
December, the day after Christmas; St. Stephen being 
the first who suffered martyrdom. 

44 St. Stephen, who was a Jew, and probably one of the 
seventy disciples, is described in Scripture as a man 
full of faith and the Holy Ghost, (Acts vi : 5,) by which 
he was peculiarly qualified for the honorable and useful 
office of Deacon, to which he had been advanced. St. 
Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and 
miracles among the people, (Acts vi:8,) and by his 
ministrations the word of God increased so much that 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 93 

the malice of the unbelieving Jews was excited against 
him." 

He was, while upon his knees praying for his mur- 
derers, stoned to death. "Among the spectators, and 
perhaps promoters of this bloody deed, was Saul," who 
was afterwards converted to the religion of Christ. 

'■* We may learn by the calmness and resignation of 
St. Stephen under such circumstances, ' that a firm be- 
lief in another life is the great support of a good man 
under the sufferings of the present.' " 



The Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity. 
St. John The Evangelist. 

The festival of St. John the Evangelist^ December 
the 27th. 

" St. John was a Galilean, (Matt, iv: 21,) the son of 
Zebedee and Salome, and younger brother of St. James, 
with whom he was brought up in the trade of fishing, 
and with whom he was called to be a disciple and an 
apostle of our Saviour. He is thought to be far the 
youngest of all the Apostles, being thirty years old 
when he was first called to that dignity. He was the 
disciple whom Jesus loved ; who lay in his bosom at the 
Paschal Supper, and to whom, as his dearest friend, 
our Lord, when he was leaving the world, committed 
the care of the blessed Mary his mother." For some- 
time previous to being called by Jesus, he was a disciple 
to John the Baptist. He remained with our Saviour 
when the rest deserted him. He stayed by him all 
through his trial and at his crucifixion. 

" At the first news of our Lord's return from the 
dead he, accompanied with Peter, hasted to the se- 
pulchre. Indeed there seems to have been a mutual 
intimacy between these two apostles more than the 
rest." 

" St. John exercised his apostolic office in the East, 
principally in Asia, where he founded the Churches of 



94 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 



Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, 
Laodicea. His chief place of residence was Ephesus, of 
which Church, after the death of Timothy, the bishop, 
he took charge towards the close of his life. At the 
command of the Emperor Domitian, St. John was sent 
by the proconsul of Asia, bound, to Rome, where he 
was cast into a caldron of oil set on fire, from the con- 
suming fury of which he was rescued by the power of 
that same God who preserved the three Hebrew cap- 
tives in the flames of a burning furnace. He was then 
banished by order of Domitian into the islaud of Pat- 
mos. Here he remained several years until recalled 
from banishment by the Emperor Nerva." 

After this St. John returned into Asia and fixed his 
seat at Ephesus, where, with the assistance of seven 
bishops, he governed this large diocese. 

St. John wrote the Book of Revelations while con- 
fined in Patmos. He wrote his Gospel at Ephesus at 
the earnest request of the bishops of Asia. Besides 
these, he wrote three Epistles. 

He died a natural death about the beginning of the 
reign of Trajan, being about one hundred years old, 
having been an apostle for seventy years. 

u St. John returned the afiectikm of his Lord and 
Master by steady adherence to Him under his dangers 
and adversities. Hence we may learn that sincere love 
for the Saviour should lead us to bear His cross as well 
as to partake of His glories. In the writings of St. 
John we behold enforced the divinity of the Saviour, 
and the exalted importance and obligation of Christian' 
charity." 






The Eighteenth. Sunday after Trinity, 

The Holy Innocents. 

On the 28th of December the Church celebrates the 
martyrdom of the Holy Innocents, " it having been the 
sense of the Church that they died the death of martyrs, 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 95 

though incapable of making the choice." At the birth 
of our Saviour the wise men from the East came to Je- 
rusalem enquiring, " where is He that is born king of the 
Jews? for we have seen His star in the East, and are 
come to worship Him." (Matt, ii : 2.) Herod the king 
being alarmed lest his own kingdom should be in dan- 
ger, sent the wise men to Bethlehem to search for the 
child, and directed them when they found Him to bring 
him word that he might also go and worship Ilim, 
hoping by this means to get possession of our Savi< u:- 
and destroy Him. But the wise men, after they had 
visited Jesus r were warned in a dream that the}- should 
not return to Herod, and returned to their country 
another way ; while Joseph, by the direction of an angel 
who appeared to him in a dream, fled into Egypt with 
the young child and his mother, where he remained 
until the death of Herod. " Then Herod, when he saw 
that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceediug 
wroth, and sent forth and slew all the children that 
were in Bethlehem and in all the coasts thereof, from 
two years old and under, according to the time which 
he had diligently enquired of the wise men," (Matt, 
ii: 16.) 

Herod, under the pretense of worshiping Jesus, 
sought His destruction; hence we may learn that reli- 
gion is sometimes used as a cloak for ambitious and 
worldly designs. Since innocent children were made a 
sacrifice to the ambition of a cruel tyrant, we may learn 
that suffering and affliction are not always proofs of 
guilt, but on the contrary are sometimes the marks oi 
God's favour." 

The Circumcision of our Lori> Jesus Christ. 

On the first day of January is celebrated the festival 
of the circumcision of our Lord Jesus Christ. As this 
rite is described in the sixth lesson of the first part oi 
this book, we will not notice it further here. 



96 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

The Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity. 
St. Paul. 

The festival of the conversion of St. Paul occurs on 
January the 25th. "He was not of the number of the 
twelve; yet, for his extraordinary eminence in the min- 
istry of the Gospel he was styled an apostle." 

St. Paul was born at Tarsus, the Metropolis of Cilicia, 
a city noted for its riches, learning and schools. 

He was taught the trade of a tent maker; the Jews 
considering it a disgrace not to bring up their children 
to some useful occupation ; but he was also liberally 
educated at Tarsus. Afterwards he was sent to Jeru- 
salem, where he became a scholar of Gamaliel, the cele- 
brated doctor of the law. 

In the knowledge of the law St. Paul soon outstripped 
all his fellow students. He persecuted the Christians 
with great zeal, and after being accessory to the death 
of St. Stephen, got authority to pursue the Christians 
to Damascus in order to persecute them. (Acts ix : 1-2.) 
But on his way to Damascus he was struck to the 
ground by a great light from heaven, and a voice called 
to him, " Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me ?" To 
which he replied, " Who art thou, Lord?" The voice 
replied, " I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." Saul 
trembling and astonished inquired, " Lord, what wilt 
thou have me to do ?" He is directed to go to Damas- 
cus, where he should receive an answer. (Acts ix : 3-6.) 

Upon rising from the ground St. Paul found that he 
was blind, and was led by his companions to Damascus, 
where he lasted for three days, when Ananias, (a very 
devout disciple,) directed by "our Lord, found Paul and 
told him that he had been sent to him by Jesus that he 
might receive his sight and be filled with the Holy 
Ghost. After receiving his sight he was baptized and 
initiated into the Christian faith, after which he joined 
himself to the disciples at that place. (Acts ix : 8-20.) 
St. Paul received from the lips of Christ himself his 
commission as an apostle to the Gentiles. 

It is impossible in the brief space allotted us to follow 
closely in the footsteps of this most eminent apostle in 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 97 

his extensive journeyings, by land and sea, in the exer- 
cise of his apostolic office. Suffice it to say, that 
" through the most severe hardships and perils he pro- 
claimed the Gospel of his Saviour over the whole lloman 
Empire; from Jerusalem through Arabia, Asia, Greece, 
round to Illyricum, to Rome, and even to what was 
then considered the utmost bounds of the western 
world. Dismayed by no dangers or difficulties, he was 
zealous and indefatigable in preaching the Gospel, 
and in writing Epistles to. confirm in the faith those 
Churches which he had established ; thus persevering 
in the good tight of faith till he had finished his course." 
There is reason to believe that St. Paul extended his 
apostolic labours to the island of Great Britain. 

" He was beheaded in the sixty-eight year of his age 
at Rome, under Nero, in the general persecution of the 
Christians upon the pretence that they set fire to the 
city. St. Paul left fourteen Epistles, which contain an 
admirable exposition of the plan of salvation, and the 
most forcible exhortations to the practice of Christian 
duties. As he was led to execution, he is said to have 
converted three of the soldiers sent to guard him, and 
who within a few days, by the Emperor's command, 
became martyrs to the faith." 

St. Paul was buried in the Yia Ostiensis, about two 
miles from Rome; and over his grave was afterwards 
erected a handsome Church. " The mercy of God to 
him who was 4 the chief of sinners,' should inspire us 
with confidence to apply to God for pardon under a 
sense of our guilt. The zeal and faithfulness of St. 
Paul, after his conversion, should excite us to show the 
sincerity of our repentance by actions most opposed to 
our former sins." 



The Twentieth Sunday After Trinity. 

The Purification of St. Mary the Virgin. 

On the second of February is celebrated the festival 
of the presentation of Christ in the Temple, commonly 



98 CHURCH TEACHINGS POR 

called the purification of St. Mary the Virgin. (See 
Lesson vi, Part First.) 

St. Matthias the Apostle. 

The festival of St. Matthias occurs on February 24th : 
St. Matthias was not originally among the twelve Apos- 
tles, but when Judas killed himself, (in consequence of 
his remorse at having betrayed his master), Matthias 
was chosen in his place. The disciples of Christ, after 
the ascension, and before the descent of the Holy Ghost, 
being assembled at Jerusalem, St. Peter recommended 
filling the vacancy. Two were appointed ; Joseph, 
called Barsabas, and Matthias; both qualified for the 
position. 

The mode of election was by lots. 

Having prayed to God that he would show which of 
these he would choose, the lots were put into the urn, 
and the name of Matthias was drawn out and he be- 
came one of the apostles. 

He is supposed to have been one of the seventy dis- 
ciples appointed by Christ. 

After the Holy Ghost was conferred upon him with 
the other apostles, his labours were first confined to 
Judea, where, having converted many to the cause of 
Christ, u he afterwards, (according to St. Jerome), trav- 
eled to the countries eastward, where, after many 
labours and sufferings, he obtained the crown of mar- 
tyrdom." 

Though Judas turned out a bad and corrupt man, 
having been once chosen by Christ an apostle, he was 
equally empowered with the rest to do the work of an 
apostle. 

"Hence we may learn that the wickedness of a 
minister does not invalidate his commission, or render 
useless his office. The efficacy of a sacred ordinanc^ 
dots not depend upon the personal virtues of him wfc 
administers it, but upon the Divine institution an 
blessing." 

The Annunciation op the Blessed Virgin Mar 
This festival is celebrated on the 25th of Marctu 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 99 

"By the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin is meant 
the declaration which the Angel Gabriel made to the 
blessed Mary, (Luke i : 80-31), that she should be the 
mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, &c." (See First Part, 
Lesson iii.) 



The Twenty-first Sunday After Trinity. 
St. Mark the Evangelist. 

This festival occurs on April 25th. 

" St. Mark, though a Roman by name, was born of 
Jewish parents of the tribe of Levi. He was converted 
probably by St. Peter, whose companion he was in all 
his travels, supplying the place of an interpreter. 

" The title Evangelist was first given to all who 
preached the Gospel ; but it was aiterwards confined to 
those four who wrote the history of the life of Christ, 
which history is styled the Gospel, or good tidings. St. 
Mark was sent by St. Peter into Egypt, to Alexandria, 
and the parts adjacent, where his ministry was emi- 
nently successful. He afterwards went Westward to 
Lybia and other countries. ,y 

He wrote his, Gospel at the request of his- converts at 
Rome. He outlived both St. Peter and St. Paul. St. 
Mark, while engaged in Divine worship on Easter, in 
Alexandria, was seized by the people and dragged 
through the streets until his flesh was so badly torn 
that he died. His remains, were afterwards removed 
with great pomp from Alexandria to Venice,, where one 
of the most magnificent churches, in the world was 
erected to his memory. He died on the 25th of April, 
though the exact year is uncertain. " We should dili- 
gently seek to establish our faith in the truth of that 
Holy Gospel which the Evangelist St. Mark was, with 
others, an instrument in promulgating. We should 
therefore diligently read and study those Divine writ- 
ings, which contain the words of eternal life." 



100 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

The Twenty-second Sunday After Trinity. 

St. Philip and St. James. 

May 1. 

" St. Philip, the Apostle, was a native of Bethsaida. 
lie had the honor of being first called to be a disciple 
of our blessed Saviour, and was his constant companion 
and follower." 

Upper Asia was the province which fell to his care, 
where he made many converts. He suffered martrydom 
by being crucified at Hieropolis, a rich city in Phiygia, 
where one of their principal deities, whom they wor- 
shiped, was a serpent or dragon. 

St. James the Less. 

" St. James the Less was probably the son of Joseph 
by a former wife, and therefore styled the brother of our 
Lord in the same sense that our Lord was reputed the 
son of Joseph. It is thought he was styled the Less to 
distinguish him from St. James (the brother of St. John) 
surnamecl the Great, (either because of his age, being 
much older than St. James the Less, or for some pecu- 
liar honors which our Lord conferred upon him.) 

" But he acquired a more exalted appellation by the 
piety and virtue of his life. SL James the Just He was 
chosen first Bishop of Jerusalem, the mother of all 
other churches, and was particularly active at the coun- 
cil of the church at Jerusalem in the great controversy 
concerning the Jewish rites and ceremonies ; for though 
the case was opened by St. Peter and discussed by St. 
Paul, yet the final decree was pronounced by St. James, 
from 'which circumstance appears the fallacy of the 
papal claims for the supremacy of St. Peter." 

" The Scribes and Pharisees, enraged against him for 
his success in preaching the Gospel, cast him down from 
a pinnacle of the temple where he was addressing tl 
people. Being very much bruised, though not kille 
by the fall, he recovered so much strength as to g- 
upon his knees and implore the Divine mercy for hi 
barbarous persecutors, and while he was thus prayii 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 101 

for them they loaded him with a shower of stones, and 
at length beat out his brains." 

He died in the ninety-sixth year of his age, and about 
twenty-four years after Christ's ascension. 

" He was buried (says Gregory, Bishop of Tours) upon 
Mount Olivet, in a tomb which he had built for himself, 
and wherein he had buried Zacharias and old Symeon." 

" St. James was a man of exemplary piety and devo- 
tion. Prayer was his constant business and delight. 
He governed the church with zeal and fidelity He was 
distinguished for the meekness and humility of iiis tem- 
per, and for his temperance and self-denial." He wrote 
but one Epistle, addressed to the Jewish converts scat- 
tered abroad. " Xhe zeal and resolution of these two 
apostles in promulgating the truth, should animate 
our exertions in the cause of religion aud virtue. The 
example of St. James in praying for his murderers in- 
culcates in us the duty of forgiving our enemies ; and 
his remarkable self-denial should impress on us the im- 
* portance of this duty." 



The Twenty-Third Sunday After Trinity. 
St. Barnabas the Apostle. 

This festival occurs on June 11. 

" St. Barnabas was born at Cyprus, and was descend- 
ed of the tribe of Levi. His parents, who were rich 
and pious, sent him to Jerusalem, and committed him 
to the care of Gamaliel, a great doctor of tiie law, at 
whose feet he was brought up together with St. Paul. 

'* Not long after St. Paul's conversion, Barnabas met 
him at Jerusalem, and introduced him to the apostles, 
declaring to them the manner of his conversion. St. 
Paul aud Barnabas laboured together in the establish- 
ment of the church at Antioch, where the followers of 
Jesus were first called Christians. (Acts xi : 26.) 

" St. Barnabas and St. Paul were set apart by the 
command of the Holy Ghost to preach the Gospel to 
the Gentiles. 



102 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

" It is supposed that St. Barnabas suffered martyr- 
dom at Salamis, where it is said he was stoned by the 
Jews." 

St. John the Baptist. 

St. John the Baptist's day, June 24. 

St. John the Baptist, the sou of Zicharias and Eliza- 
beth, " exceeded the rest of the prophets in the excel- 
lency of his office, which was to fit and prepare the 
minds of the people for the immediate reception of 
Christ and his doctrine. The resolute preaching of St. 
John, together with the severity of his life, drew to 
him many hearers from Jerusalem and Judea, and from 
the regions round about Jordan, and great was the num- 
ber of his proselytes whom he baptized. He was be- 
headed by command of Herod. (Matt, xiv : 3, &c.) 

" The humble and mortified life of John the Baptist 
should teach us that true greatness consists in the con- 
tempt of the sinful pleasures of the world, and in cher- 
ishing that humble and pious spirit which will set us 
above its highest enjoyments." 



The Twenty-Fourth. Sunday After Trinity. 
St. Peter. 

The festival of St. Peter is celebrated on the 29th 
day of June. 

St. Peter was born at Bethsaida. Both he and his 
brother Andrew were fishermen, as was also their 
father Jonah. From the time that St. Peter was 
called by our Saviour he became a constant and insep- 
arable disciple, "and together with the two sons of 
Zebedee, St. James and St. John, was admitted into the 
most close and intimate familiarity with his blessed 
Lord." (Mark T: 37; Matt, xvii: 1-2). 

" There is not a word said in the sacred writings of 

the superior power of St. Peter ; but on the contrary, 

[ in the very first council held at Jerusalem (where, and 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 103 

not at Rome, was the mother church) St. James, the 
Bishop of Jerusalem, presided, and authoritatively de- 
livered the sentence, (Acts xv: 13, &c.,) while Peter, 
with Barnabas and Paul, only discussed the question 
before the council. (Acts xv: 7-12.) In the epistles of 
Ignatius, and in the writings of the early ages of the 
church, there is not a word said about the supremacy 
of the Bishop of Rome. The respect paid to the Bish- 
ops of Rome in the subsequent ages was only a matter 
of courtesy to them as Bishops of the chief city of the 
empire. 

11 Their usurpations by a long course of intrigue, art, 
and corruption, were always steadfastly opposed and 
rejected by a great part of the Christian church. 

"All Bishops, as successors of the Apostles, have 
equal power and prerogative in Christ's Church." 

u St. Peter appears to have been naturally a man of 
a warm and impetuous temper, «n& heartily engaged 
in his Master's service. 

" Trusting too much to his own strength, St. Peter 
became a signal example of human frailty, by denying 
that Master to whose service he had so zealously 
pledged himself. The penetrating look of Christ awak- 
ened in St. Peter a conviction of his guilt and ingrati- 
tude. He passionately lamented his base conduct, -and 
thus became a lively pattern for us when we. offend 
our gracious Lord and Master." 

" St. Peter's first mission was to Samaria, where he 
went to confirm those whom Philip the Deacon had 
converted; and, by prayer and imposition -of hands, to 
communicate to them the gift of the Holy *Ghost." 

After his wonderful escape from prison, (where he 
had been placed by Herod, and who intended to put 
him to death the next day,) St. Peter fled to Antioch, 
and became the first Bishop of that church. He after- 
wards preached to the Jew T s in Pontus, Galatia, Cappa- 
docia and Asia. 

About A. D., 69 St. Peter was crucified by Nero, 
with his head downward. " He affirmed that he was 
unworthy to suffer in the sanae posture wherein his 
Lord had suffered before him. The primitive fathers 



104 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 

have generally ranked St. Peter among the married 
apostles, as the scriptures make mention of his wife's 
mother." (Matt, viii : 14.) 

" This apostle has left two Epistles, addressed to the 
Jewish converts who were scattered through Pontus, 
Galatia, &c." (1 Peter i : 1.) 

"The superior love and affection which St. Peter 
manifested for his Master, which led him to expose 
himself to the greatest hazards, should inflame our 
hearts with the most sincere and lively love for our 
Divine Master." 



The Twenty-Fif th. Sunday After Trinity. 
St. James the Great. 

The festival of St. James the Great, July 25. 

" St. James, (commonly surnamed the Great, either 
for his age or some peculiar honour conferred upon 
him by Christ) was a Galilean, born probably at Beth- 
saida or Capernaum. He was the son of Zebedee, an 
eminent fisherman in those places. (Matt, iv: 21.) He 
was brother to St. John, and they both had the honour 
of being related to our blessed Saviour, their mother 
Mary, named Salome, being either sister or cousin-ger- 
mau to the blessed Virgin." 

St. James and St. John, while fishing in the sea of 
Galilee, were called by our Saviour. They immediately 
left their employment and their father and became con- 
stant attendants upon Christ in his ministry. (Matt, iv : 
21, &c.) 

" After our Saviour's ascension, St. James preached 
the Gospel in Judea and Samaria ; and, by command of 
Herod, being seized at Jerusalem, he there suffered 
martyrdom, being the first apostle who laid down his 
life for the testimony of Jesus. 

"The readiness with which St. James forsook his 
father to follow Christ, should teach us that no worldly 
considerations, not even the ties of nature, should come 
in competition with the express commands of God." 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 105 

St. Bartholomew. 

The festival of St. Bartholomew occurs on the 24th 
of August. 

St. Bartholomew and Nathanael are supposed to be 
one and the same person. " St. John never mentions 
Bartholomew, while he often speaks of Nathanael ; and 
the other Evangelists, though they mention Bartholo- 
mew, never take notice of Nathauael." 

Our Saviour spoke of Nathanael as " an Israelite 
indeed, in whom is no guile." (John i : 47.) 

"It is supposed that this apostle preached the gospel 
in Arabia Felix, and the hither India. He afterwards 
traveled through the northern and western parts of 
Asia, through Lacaonia, and at length settled in Alba- 
nople, a city of the greater Armenia, where, endeavor- 
ing to reclaim the people from idolatry, he was seized 
by the governor and, after being flayed alive, was cru- 
cified with his head downwards. This lingering and 
dreadful death he cheerfully sustained, comforting and 
encouraging his Christian converts to the last moment 
of his life." 

St. Matthew. 

St. Matthew's day is celebrated on September 21. 

" St. Matthew, who was also named Levi, (Luke v: 
27,) was a Hebrew of the Hebrews ; and was probably 
a Galilean. His occupation was that of a publican 
(Matt, x : 3) or toll-gatherer to the Romans." 

While engaged at his occupation, our Saviour passed 
by and bade St. Matthew to follow him, 

" After our Saviours ascension St. Matthew for about 
eight years preached in Judea, and afterwards he trav- 
eled into Parthia and Ethiopia, where he converted 
multitudes to Christianity. It is most probable he 
suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, though the manner of 
his death is altogether uncertain." 

" He has left the Gospel that goes under his name. 
This Gospel, which it is supposed was originally writ- 
ten in Hebrew and afterwards translated^into Greek, 
was written by St. Matthew about eight years after the 



106 CHURCH TEACHINGS FOR 



death of Christ, for the particular use of the Jewish 
cun verts." 



The Twenty- Sixth Sunday after Trinity. 
St. Michael and All Ang-els. 

This festival is celebrated on September 29. 

" The scriptures inform us that St. Michael was an 
archangel who presided over the Jewish nation, as 
other archangels did over the Gentile world ; (Daniel 
xr 13,) that he had an army of angels under his com- 
mand with whom he fought with the dragon, or Satan 
and his angels, (Rev. xii: 7); and that contending w T ith 
the devil, he disputed about the body of Moses." 
(Jude 9 v.) 

" It is generally supposed that the fight mentioned in 
the Revelation of St. Michael and his angels, with the 
dragon and his angels, most probably signifies some 
eminent victory of the Christian Church, by the assist- 
ance of these ministering .spirits, over the power and ; 
malice of the devil and his angels, who set themselves 
with all their force to persecute and destroy the 
Church." 

" The Church celebrates this festival in order to ex- 
press her thankfulness to God for the many eminent 
advantages she and her faithful members enjoy from 
the ministry and assistance of good angels." 

St. Luke the Evangelist. 

St. Luke's day is October the IStli. " St. Luke was • 
born at Antioch, the metropolis of Syria. Here he Was 
educated from his childhood, and enriched with all 
kinds of human learning, and afterwards visited the 
chief academies of Asia and Greece, and then applied 
himself to the study of physic, in which art he became 
eminent, and is believed to have excelled in painting. 
He was probably converted by St. Paul at Antioch, of 
whom he was a constant and inseparable companion. 
(Acts xvi: 10, &c.) St.. Paul entertained a great 'affec- 
tion for him. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 107 

* The place and manner of St. Luke's death is uncer- 
tain. He wrote his Gospel in Achaia by the assistance 
of St. Paul, principally with a view to record many 
particulars relating to the Saviour, which the other 
Evangelists had passed over. The Acts of the Apostles 
were written by St. Luke at Rome while he was there 
attending on St. Paul in his imprisonment. 



< The Twenty- Seventh Sunday after Trinity. 
St. Simon and St. Jude. 

This festival occurs October 28. 

" St. Simon, the apostle, preached the Gospel in Egypt 
and Africa, and it is supposed in Britain. He finally 
suffered martyrdom." 

" St. Jude, the apostle, is reckoned among the number 
of the brethren of our Lord, being the son of Joseph, 
and brother of James, Bishop of Jerusalem. St. Jude 
preached in Judea, Galilee, and the neighboring coun- 
tries, and at last suffered martyrdom in Persia." 

St. Jude left one Epistle. 

All-Saints Day. . 

This festival is celebrated on the first day of No- 
vember. 

" The Church has wisely set apart a day for the com- 
memoration of those good and eminent Christians who 
have fought the good fight of faith, and been remarka- 
bly distinguished for their virtue and piety, and who 
are therefore properly called saints. The principal 
design of the Church in instituting this festival seems 
to be to honour God in the virtues and good examples 
of his saints." " By the observation of this festival we 
should be excited to bless God for the powerful aids 
and encouragements which he affords us in the practice 
of virtue, by the good examples of his saints, whose 
memories we should honour, and whose piety and virtue 
we should thankfully commemorate." 

The End. 



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